A brand new venue in Hawkes Bay will join the 2008 Parker ENZED Jetsprint Championships with the Riverside Jet track in Crownthorpe recently receiving resource consent, allowing it to hold Round 4 of the upcoming six round 2008 Parker ENZED Championships. The new venue is already prepared on the farm of Pete and Robin Connor, and with the Hasting District Council providing consent, Hawkes Bay’s residents have another major annual event to look forward to. The new Riverside Jet track is built in a spring fed lagoon which has been formed into a multi island Jetsprint track. With easy access and raised spectator banking providing a close up view of the full course, and a challenging tight track, the new venue will provide a great day of entertainment for spectators when the Hawkes Bay venue opens to the public on Sunday 2^nd March. 

The 2008 Parker ENZED Jetsprint Championship is shaping up to be the best in years. Many teams have invested in new Jetsprint machines for 2008, and a large of contingent of new or returning competitors will see the field of competitors grow by around 30% this season. Among those to watch out for will be Gisborne’s Superboat World Champ Peter Briant who will join AMF Racing team in the ChemZ Group A class. Peter Briant will be doing battle with his younger brother Rex among many others. Rex Briant is the current and three times NZ Champion in ChemZ Group A.  

The fearsome Beaurepaires Superboats will also see an intense battle with last seasons Group A front-runner Richard Burt of Manawatu among several debuting a new Superboat. Christchurch’s Peter Caughey has dominated Beaurepaires Superboats for the last two years, but will face a big challenge in 2008 from Burt, along with Taupo’s Bryan Smith who has a new rig also with backing from USA Racing team – AMF.  Daryl Hutton will be back and is expected to run at the front again and Duncan Wilson will move up to Beaurepaires Superboats. Several new Turbocharged and Supercharged Beaurepaires Superboats are also expected, including Hawkes Bay local Graeme Hill who plans to debut his new 1000 Horsepower Twin-Turbo V8 machine. With up to 50 V8 powered teams competing, a big day out can be expected by all those that come along to watch the Jetsprints. 2008 Parker ENZEDNew Zealand Jetsprint Championships