After a late start to the proposed 2025 season for the Lucas Oil Hydroplane National Drivers’ Championship [NDC] , with events hampered by weather and team setbacks, comes confirmation that the Victorian Speed Boat Club [VSBC] – hosts of the annual E.C. Griffith Cup at Yarrawonga – will play host to the opening round of the 2026 season in early January [10-11] at Lake Eppalock, 90 minutes north-east of Melbourne.
“It’s been a tough debut for the Hydroplane NDC, with our original schedule affected by flooding and setbacks for some of the Hydroplane teams,” the NDC’s Rob Psaila explained.
“The hype around the Hydroplanes has been fantastic, but unlike the Forced Induction Unlimited teams that contest the Battery World series, there are only a small number of active Hydroplane teams, and a limited number of venues where we can compete with the fastest Circuit Boats in the country, so there were a lot of things to consider, with when and where we re-introduced the Championship.
“To have Glenmaggie confirm recently that they will host the sole event in 2025 (Glenmaggie Cup, 01-02 November), was fantastic news, and we’re really looking forward to getting the Lucas Oil-supported Series underway.
“As for 2026, that came together really quickly and we can’t thank the VSBC enough for taking the initiative to include the Lucas Oils Series into their annual Eppalock Gold Cup, an event which will deliver some fantastic action, especially off the back of news of an all new team [Ramsey Racing/BNR], who are preparing to debut their new boat for Tate Ramsey early in the new year.”
“Finally..” nine-time Griffith Cup and former UIM Hydroplane World Champion Grant Harrison exclaimed. “These boats are such a fantastic spectacle, and a huge crowd favourite, but whilst there are more than enough boats in the country to make the NDC work, unfortunately there’s a reluctance from some of the teams to prepare their boats and get them out of garages, so full marks to the NDC and especially Glenmaggie and the VSBC for taking this initiative, GP1 will most certainly be at both and ready to go after the 2025 and 2026 Lucas Oil titles!”
“Alongside the Grand Prix Hydroplanes at Eppalock, the Lucas Oil Hydro NDC will include the popular 1.6-litre ‘OzLite’ Hydroplanes and the 5+6-litre Hydroplanes, making it a true representation of the very best Hydroplane racing in the country across two days of racing on one of the best open water venues in the country,” Psaila added.
“The VSBC has a fantastic history with Hydroplane racing over many years,” the VSBC’s Stephen Scott [himself a former Hydroplane competitor] confirmed.
“Obviously, the E. C. Griffith Cup is one of the most coveted races in the world of boat racing, and we host that event annually at Yarrawonga each April so we know just how good they are, and also, just how popular [they are] with the fans. As a former competitor myself, it frustrates me that with all these amazing boats in garages around the country that we don’t see them competing as much any more, when they were once the biggest crowd-pleasers in the sport. To have the backing of the VSBC to get the NDC to bring the event to Eppalock has been fantastic, now the aim is to get some more of these boats out of garages and back on the water where they belong!!”
With the opening round of the 2026 Lucas Oil Hydroplane NDC now locked in in addition to Glenmaggie’s 2025 debut, focus turns to establishing a second round with talks underway with a number of venues; updates will come once details are finalised.
For the past three decades, Sean Henshelwood has been fortunate to build a career that is never dull, consistently challenging, and offers an extraordinary breadth of experiences. His work spans Asia and Australia, encompassing commentary, media support, and the development of television programmes. He collaborates closely with a dedicated Beijing-based team, delivering a diverse range of media services to motorsport and motoring clients across the Asian region.