The fog lifted by Sunday midday to reveal glassy water and a packed lakefront for the second half of the Lucas Oil Australia Hydroplane National Drivers Championship (NDC). Crews worked fast through the pits, checking fuel lines and tightening hardware before reverse-grid heats and the finals.
When the flag dropped, Grant Harrison kept GP1 planted and set the tone. Ben Clark in GP101, back on pace after Saturday setbacks, chased hard, with Dan Krusic in Krusader pressing in third. Four laps later, with spray sheets hanging over the turns, Harrison crossed first to claim the maiden NDC crown, Clark second, Krusic third.
The 5+6-litre class swung on Sunday reliability. Tony Murphy (Enforcer) dominated day one, hot laps and Heat 1, but electrical issues blunted his run. Consistency won out as Kelvin Macansh (Gator) banked results to take the title ahead of an impressive Brendan Anderson (AMR), with Paul Jones (Stampede) in the mix all weekend.
The 1.6-litre OzLite hydros delivered tight racing. Harrison added class honours, edging Wendy Gielen (Miss Hydromania) and Dooie Nicholls, who briefly held the hot-lap benchmark before the top GP times rolled in. Smaller boats, big spectacle.
Morning updates set the tone: fog lifting, still breeze, and teams prepping for the reverse-grid heats and finals. By early afternoon, the banks were buzzing. The pits were grit and focus—batteries secured, wiring checked, canards tweaked—every job aimed at making the start and finishing strong.
The Glenmaggie round proved the NDC format works for hydroplanes: regular racing, clear points, and a spotlight for GP, 5/6-litre, and OzLite teams on the same bill. It’s the structure the class has needed to get Australia’s quickest circuit boats back in front of crowds.
Coming up
- Next NDC stop: Lake Eppalock, 10–11 January 2026.
- Across the Tasman: New Zealand’s Hydro Thunder continues in December at Mangakino.
- On the horizon: The E.C. Griffith Cup returns to Yarrawonga, 17–19 April 2026—testing Friday, Cup Saturday, finals Sunday.
Fast boats, family crews, perfect water—the Lucas Oil Australia Hydroplane NDC has arrived with a statement. Kiwi fans will be watching; trans-Tasman bragging rights just got a fresh spark.
Results summary: GP — 1) Grant Harrison (GP1), 2) Ben Clark (GP101), 3) Dan Krusic (Krusader). 5/6-litre — 1) Kelvin Macansh (Gator), 2) Brendan Anderson (AMR), 3) Paul Jones (Stampede). OzLite — 1) Grant Harrison, 2) Wendy Gielen (Miss Hydromania), 3) Dooie Nicholls.
