The Régates de Beauharnois celebrate their 18th anniversary this weekend on the waters of Lake Saint-Louis in Quebec. For hydroplane fans, it marks the final and most important stop of the 2025 Hydroplane Racing League season. With up to five Grand Prix heats scheduled, the championship remains alive.
At the centre is a familiar Kiwi name. The GP577 Lucas Oil, defending Grand Prix champion and current points leader, will not be driven by Ken Lupton but by his father, two-time UIM World Champion Warwick Lupton. Ken has stayed home in New Zealand with family and farming commitments, leaving Warwick to take the wheel.
The veteran already proved his pace with a third-place finish at Brockville earlier in the season. “I’m fit and ready to go,” Warwick said this week. His appearance gives Canadian fans a chance to watch one of New Zealand’s most decorated hydroplane racers in action.
A champion returns
Warwick Lupton’s career is one of the most decorated in the sport. Over three decades he has collected two UIM World Grand Prix titles, five Masport Cups, two Griffith Cups, three AE Baker Cups, and multiple New Zealand Grand Prix victories.
Originally tricked into racing after buying a boat for water-skiing, he quickly became a force. In 2001, he swept the Griffith Cup, AE Baker Championship, and Paynesville Gold Cup in Australia. Five years later, he claimed his first UIM World title at Lake Karapiro, New Zealand, followed by another in Yarrawonga, Australia, in 2010.
His Annihilator 007 hydroplane, designed by Malcolm Jamieson, became iconic — lighter, faster, and radically different from the traditional designs of its era. Though spectacular, it was not without drama: in 2015 the boat somersaulted while Warwick led at Lake Dunstan, snapping in half on landing. He walked away with minor injuries, and the rebuilt hull is still raced today.
The Lupton family
Racing runs deep in the Lupton family. Warwick’s father, Ewen “Snow” Lupton, became a household name in 1983 when his horse Kiwi stormed to victory in the Melbourne Cup. It was a huge event, and one I remember vividly from my childhood. Snow’s legacy of determination has passed through the family.
Warwick’s sons Ken and Jack are both leading drivers. Ken, defending HRL champion, has piloted Lucas Oil to the front of the standings once again this year. Jack, who has also raced in Canada and the United States, is bringing his GP-33 JLM Motorsport boat back to New Zealand for future competition. This makes an exciting shift in an already strong GP competition in New Zealand.
When Ken couldn’t travel to Quebec, it was natural for Warwick to step in. His presence underlines how the Luptons have become one of the sport’s great dynasties, carrying New Zealand’s colours across international waters.
Beauharnois showdown
The Beauharnois Regatta is one of Quebec’s premier events, attracting thousands of spectators to Bourcier Park each August. Alongside Valleyfield and Saint-Félicien, it forms the backbone of the Canadian hydroplane summer.
In the Grand Prix class, all eyes will on Lucas Oil. Kent Henderson’s GP-757 Canada Boy trails by 65 points and remains the main challenger for the title. Andrew Tate (GP-71 The Wild One), Brandon Kennedy (GP-35 TM Special), Ken Brodie (GP-50 Freedom), and Éric Langevin (GP-212 Sylco) round out a deep and competitive field.
The equation is simple. If Warwick keeps Lucas Oil in the top places, Ken secures back-to-back HRL titles without making the trip. If Henderson dominates, the championship may swing his way.
More than a substitute
Warwick has often hinted at stepping back from racing, suggesting it’s time for the next generation. Yet whenever he returns to the cockpit, he proves he remains a contender. Beyond his own record, his influence on the sport in New Zealand has been profound.
By aligning local GP engine rules with HRL specifications, Warwick helped expand grids and cut costs. He continues to mentor young drivers, lend expertise to rival teams, and support efforts to grow the sport at home. His reputation is not only as a champion but as a custodian of hydroplane racing.
As engines fire this weekend, one thing is certain: New Zealand’s elder statesman of hydroplane racing is far from finished. Warwick Lupton is still fit, ready, and chasing glory.
EXCLUSIVE: Flying the flag. Ken Lupton’s high-speed life between farm and finish line
