The Lupton Brothers confirm their return to HRL

New Zealanders Ken and Jack Lupton announced on their Facebook that they will be coming to North America starting in May to compete in the Hydroplane Racing League Series. Accompanying the ad is a photograph showing the machinery prepared by engine builder Grant Rivers in the family garage.

“The engines are ready to be sent to Canada where Ken and Jack can join the competition in the HRL Series, with the first race being in May,” we read in the communication. This weekend (March 10th, 11th, 12th), Ken Lupton will be at Rotyoti Lake with his “Lucas Oil” GP-577 for the final Hydro Thunder NZ series event. Warwick and Jack Lupton will not be among the entrants, so they will be an integral part of the Lucas Oil stable as members of the squad.

A fleet of 11 boats in 2023

The Hydroplane Racing League has revealed the list of competitors who will compete in 2023 in the seven boat classes and a total of 11 racing teams will be looking to win the Grand Prix. The season runs May 20-21 in Cambridge, Maryland.

Defending champion Andrew Tate will return to the controls of the now-former Steeler “Hydro Fish” GP-88, owned by Mike Movinsky and Huey Newport. Due to his contractual obligations in the Unlimited category, the sailor from Walled Lake (Michigan) will give way to Bert Henderson at Brockville Regatta and North Tonawanda (New York)

In addition to brothers Jack (Lupton Motorsports GP-33) and Ken Lupton (new Lucas Oil GP-577), opposition in particular will come from Bobby and Brandon Kennedy who will team up as drivers for the new “TKO Racing” GP-35 by Ron Thompson .

Among the Quebec standard bearers, Campivallensien Marc Lecompte returns aboard “Miss Cléopâtre” GP-104, as does Robin Demers / Mario Blain alongside “Canada Boy” GP-757. Meanwhile, Yannick Leger will share the wheel of the GP-212 race car renamed “Plumberry Silko” with former champion and engine manufacturer Eric Langevin.

Among the Grand Prix newcomers, Bobby King will drive the Schaller GP-39 “Megavolt” family car and Nicholas Ross will serve as backup driver in the camp GP-79 “Bad Influence”. The driver, Jeff Bernard, of Kent (Washington), won the Grand Prix America Group Points Championship in 2022, taking the second step of the podium at the 82 Régates de Valleyfield.

Ken Brodie II will be one to watch as usual racing the ‘Freedom’ GP-50 and Tom Thompson will complete the Grand Prix fleet at the controls of the ‘Fat Chance Too’ GP-525 wooden chassis.

The North American Championship will be on the line at the 83 Régates de Valleyfield on July 14, 15 and 16, which could encourage teams from the GPA series to come and compete against HRL teams in the co-sanctioned event. by the Canadian and American Jet Ski Federations. One of the additions could be Roger Mahan’s new GP-2 “Pleasure Seeker” and if that’s the case, veteran driver Jimmy King will have a chance to celebrate 4^H Invading the waters of the Gulf of Saint-François, in this case the circuit of Robert Theuret.