The GPA/HRL 3 Round Challenge 2025 wraps up this weekend in Valleyfield, Quebec. The stage is set for a nail-biting finish.
Kiwi racer Ken Lupton arrives tied for the lead. He drives GP-577, the Lucas Oil NZ hydroplane. With two rounds behind him, Ken has shown blistering pace and fierce consistency.
He won the first heat at Guntersville. He also posted the fastest lap of the time trials—an impressive 127.334mph. When wind cancelled racing on the final day, Ken still secured maximum points from that round.
Ken Lupton claims heat victory at weather-marred Guntersville HydroFest
In Madison, he again showed his mettle. Despite a slower time trial, Ken surged in the heats. His duel with Jeff Bernard in Heat 2A was one of the weekend’s highlights. He edged ahead in a close battle, collecting vital points before the event was cut short due to high winds.
Jack Lupton, piloting GP-33 for Jack Lupton Motorsports, has also impressed. He claimed a heat win in Madison and placed second in the time trials—just 0.03 seconds behind the leader. While a mechanical issue kept him from finishing at Guntersville, his strong Madison results vaulted him back into the top three.
Now, only four points separate the top three boats. Ken Lupton and American driver Jeff Bernard are tied on points. Brandon Kennedy sits just behind them. Jack Lupton, in third, is still within striking distance—especially if things go his way in Valleyfield.
Valleyfield isn’t just another race. Known as the Superbowl of hydroplane racing, Régates de Valleyfield draws thousands of fans. The course is tight and technical. It punishes mistakes and rewards precision. It’s the perfect setting for a championship finale.
Ten Grand Prix hydroplanes will take to the water. The Kiwis will go up against North American heavyweights including Brandon Kennedy, Jeff Bernard, Greg Hopp, and Andrew Tate (Tate is well-known to New Zealand audiences as he has recently competed in New Zealand.) Among them are veterans and rookies alike—all hungry for victory.
The machines are monstrous. Grand Prix hydroplanes run supercharged V8 engines, pushing 1,400 horsepower. They scream across the water at over 160mph. Each boat weighs over 1,400 kilograms and stretches more than 26 feet long. The racing is close, loud, and physical.
Ken Lupton is no stranger to pressure. His calm head and technical finesse have brought him international success before. But Jack, younger and aggressive, is just as capable. This weekend, the brothers go head-to-head—not just with the Americans, but with each other.
One more event. One final set of heats. And then, a champion will be crowned.
Whether it’s Ken lifting the title or Jack making the leap, one thing is certain—New Zealand hydroplane racing continues to be strong on the international stage.
