A Kiwi steps up for the HRL GP 2025 Final
The Hydroplane Racing League’s Grand Prix championship reached its climax at Beauharnois, Quebec, yesterday (local time). Now 18 years into the HRL GP regatta, Beauharnois marked the decisive stop of the 2025 season.
Heading into the event, all eyes were on GP-577 Lucas Oil. Defending champion Ken Lupton stayed in New Zealand with family and farming commitments. His father, Warwick, a two-time UIM World Champion, climbed back into the cockpit. The story immediately became one of legacy and continuity.
As Warwick explained before the weekend, “I’m fit and ready to go.” His presence gave Canadian fans the chance to watch a Kiwi great in action.
Warwick Lupton returns to the wheel for HRL finale in Beauharnois
Tense early battles in Beauharnois
Time trials opened with a shock. Éric Langevin in GP-212 Sylco posted the fastest run at 29.90 seconds. Warwick, in Lucas Oil, followed closely at 29.96. Kent Henderson, steering GP-757 Canada Boy, slotted into third with 30.49.
The first heat added more intrigue. Henderson steered Canada Boy to victory with a time of 2:07.69. Langevin crossed second, and Warwick kept Lucas Oil steady in third. That put Sylco briefly at the top of the points table with 46, Henderson on 43, and Warwick on 39.
The pace was fierce. Both Sylco and Canada Boy looked dangerous. Lucas Oil needed consistency more than outright speed to hold the championship lead.
The deciding race: when only one boat finished
Then came the drama. The deciding race saw both Sylco and Canada Boy break down. On the video, Warwick ran alone, powering Lucas Oil around the course. The moment was surreal. The crowd knew that endurance had beaten raw speed.
Fan, Chris Winton, on social media summed it up in blunt terms: “Last race / 2 broke / 577 wins / Lucky / Cos those other boats were damn fast.”
Warwick simply kept his lines tight and his boat alive. By doing so, he sealed the points Ken needed to defend the crown.
A family triumph in the HRL GP 2025 Final
The official announcement soon followed: “GP-577 Lucas Oil est le Champion du Grand Prix HRL 2025!”
Hydro Thunder added a celebratory note:
“Huge congratulations to Lucas Oil GP577 Ken Lupton, back to back HRL champion. Warwick Lupton finished sealing the final points. To the GP577 team the hours of hard work and several months away from home have paid off 🏁🥂.”
It was a statement not only of victory but of persistence. Reliability had carried the day. Skill and preparation made the difference when rivals faltered.
The final words go to key sponsors Lucas Oil NZ who sent their congratulations:
Getting to post this picture for a second year running is simply incredible! Congratulations to Ken and Warwick and all the team and helpers who all make this possible. Back to back baby…!!!
What this victory means
This result underlines the depth of the Lupton family dynasty. Warwick proved he still has the ability to compete. Ken, despite his absence, remains the HRL Grand Prix champion. The Lucas Oil team showed professionalism and grit under pressure.
For New Zealand, the HRL GP 2025 Final confirms once again that Kiwi names remain central to international hydroplane racing. From Lake Karapiro to Lake Saint-Louis, the Luptons continue to define the sport’s sharp end.
Carrying the flag forward
As engines fell silent at Beauharnois, one truth became clear. The HRL GP 2025 Final was not about speed alone. It was about durability, resilience (the perfect word here), and the ability to finish when others could not.
Warwick Lupton carried his experience, and with that, that lesson across the line. He may have been the only boat racing at the finish, but his role was crucial. He kept Lucas Oil in the fight and guaranteed back-to-back titles for Ken and the team.
For the Luptons, for the New Zealand hydroplane community, and for Lucas Oil, this was more than luck. It was history repeating itself, and a reminder that champions know how to endure.
