Locals Mitchell and Justin Roylance have defied mechanical issues to place equal eighth in the 2018 UIM World Series V8 Superboats series.
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Australia hosted teams from New Zealand and the United States for this year’s international superboat series across two locations.
Brothers Justin and Mitchell went head-to-head in the International Group A category, Justin competing in his boat the “Outlaw’ and Mitchell in his boat “Blackjack”.
The sport is action-packed with courses generating between 20 and 30 direction changes in a single lap and competitors reaching speeds of 120km per hour.
Justin Roylance said they were quite well prepared for the World Series, coming straight into it from an equal sixth placing in the Australian series.
Justin made a strong start in the world series, finishing the first round of competition in Keith, South Australia, in third place with navigator Tracey Little.
Justin said he was up against some very strong teams in the series, particularly those from New Zealand.
“It’s not too often that you can compete in the world stage in events like this,” he said.
Well-placed, Justin headed to Cabarita Beach for round two with navigator Michelle Hodge.
It took a little time to find the pace, but Team Blackjack was able to round out the day in third place.
Unfortunately an engine failure on the final day of competition sidelined the Forbes boat, and Justin had to sit the final laps out.
Mitch also made a strong start to the series, sitting in fifth place before slipping in the ladder to finish in eleventh place at the end of the first round.
Engine trouble at Keith took boat “Outlaw” out of the competition, but Mitchell was able to tackle the Cabarita Beach round of the series in a friend’s boat.
Adjusting to the different set-up, Mitchell and navigator Matt Cllen finished the final day in ninth place.
When the world series points were tallied, the brothers were in equal eighth place and the race for bragging rights at the family Christmas party had ended in a tie.
Justin said he would like to thank his team and sponsors for supporting him in the championships.
His focus is now on regrouping and getting his engine fixed in time to prepare for the next challenge, the Australian Championships next year.
The closest place to see the superboats in action is Temora.
