The Glenmaggie & District Boat Club was alive this weekend as Australia’s fastest circuit boats roared into action for the very first Lucas Oil Australia Hydroplane National Drivers Championship (NDC), a historic launch for the country’s newest national racing series.
Debut Lucas Oil Australia Hydroplane NDC fires up at Glenmaggie
It is perfect weather for racing: still air, blue skies, and a light breeze over the Gippsland hills. By mid-morning yesterday (Saturday 1 November), fans were lining the banks as teams warmed up engines and prepared for practice. The calm lake quickly became a hive of sound and spray as the Grand Prix Hydroplanes, 5- and 6-litre Hydros, and 1.6-litre OzLites began turning laps.
A walk through the pits
Like yesterday’s New Zealand’s Lucas Oil Hydro Thunder New Zealand season opener, held at Mangakino, before the engines fired, the pits were all grit and grime: spanners clinking, oil on hands, and focus on every nut and bolt.
Hydro Thunder returns to Mangakino to launch the 2025–26 Lucas Oil New Zealand season
Back at Glenmaggie, the lineup read like a who’s who of Australian hydroplane racing — Grant Harrison’s freshly tuned GP1, Dan Krusic’s Krusader, Ben Clark’s rebuilt GP101, and Darren Pennington’s returning Wasp all ready to hit the water.
The atmosphere was as grassroots as it gets; family crews setting up under marquees, drivers chatting between trailers, and race officials moving briskly between classes. As one local volunteer put it during the morning walk-through: “This is the biggest hydroplane lineup Glenmaggie’s seen in years.”
Hot laps set the tone
The 1.6-litre OzLites were first to hit the course, where Grant Harrison set the inside pole from Dooie Nichols and Wendy Gielen. In the 5- and 6-litre Hydros, Tony Murphy’s Enforcer stormed to the top with a 41.54-second lap, narrowly edging Gator and Stampede by just three-tenths of a second.
Then came the main event. In the Grand Prix Hydroplanes, Harrison’s GP1 topped the charts again with a 36.51-second lap, the benchmark of the day, ahead of Krusic’s Krusader (40.83) and Clark’s GP101, which was still finding its feet after a massive rebuild completed just weeks earlier.
Racing drama and early battles
Once the racing began, the competition delivered exactly what the new series promised: wheel-to-wheel battles, thunderous acceleration, and fine margins.
In the OzLites Heat 1, Dooie Nichols grabbed an early lead before Harrison’s Melton Toyota machine fought back to win by fractions in a photo finish over Nichols and Gielen.
Among the 5- and 6-litre Hydros, Tony Murphy completed a clean sweep; top time in Hot Laps and a narrow victory in the opening heat after Kelvin Macansh’s Gator incurred a lap penalty for missing a turn buoy. Brendan Anderson (AMR) finished second, Paul Jones (Stampede) third.
Then the crowd got what they’d been waiting for: a classic GP showdown. Harrison’s GP1 and Krusic’s Krusader ran side-by-side for much of the four-lap sprint, the two boats throwing 20-metre plumes into the air as they fought for the line. Harrison took the win, Krusic second, and Ben Clark brought GP101 home in third despite handling issues.
Unfortunately, Wasp Racing (GP5) was forced to retire before Hot Laps due to mechanical issues, a tough break for a team that had worked hard to return to the water.
Sunday finals and clear skies ahead
This (Sunday 2 November) morning dawned cold and foggy but soon gave way to another flawless day at Glenmaggie. As the fog lifted, the lake shimmered under bright sun, ready for the second round of heats and the all-important finals.
The reverse-grid format promised action, with Jones, Anderson, and Murphy lining up for rematches in the 6-litre field, and the GP heavyweights poised for another Harrison–Krusic–Clark contest that would crown the first Lucas Oil Australia Hydroplane NDC winner.
A new chapter for Australian hydroplanes
The Glenmaggie round marks the beginning of a revival for high-speed hydroplane racing in Australia. While the country has long hosted legendary trophies such as the E.C. Griffith Cup, the National Drivers Championship format gives teams more regular racing, a points system, and live coverage through GP Hydro Livestreaming.
For Lucas Oil Australia, it’s the continuation of a commitment already spanning both sides of the Tasman, with the brand supporting the NZ Hydro Thunder Series in Mangakino the very same weekend.
A solid starting point
With the inaugural Glenmaggie event nearly complete and Lake Eppalock already confirmed to host the 2026 season opener, the foundation for Australia’s newest national championship looks solid.
Fast boats, family crews, and perfect conditions; the Lucas Oil Australia Hydroplane NDC has officially arrived. New Zealand you’d better watch out!
