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Trask Debuts New F1 Race Boat at Newcastle

Brisbane based F1 driver Bob Trask unveiled his latest race boat at Newcastle, the fourth round of the Australian F1 Superboat series. The new ‘fourth generation’ hull proved to be a blinder.

While the outcome in the results sheet of the Newcastle round may not have indicated the true performance of the new Trask Development Corporation/Sea Quest hull, Bob Trask left the circuit a very satisfied team owner and driver.

“We had always planned to bring out a new GTR Race Boats hull mid season,” Bob Trask said. “The new boat out of our own GTR Race Boats factory has subtle changes in the hull shape, designed to make the hull run flatter and harder.”

And run flat and hard it did, right from the outset at Newcastle. In practice on Saturday, the Trask Development Corporation/Sea Quest boat with Bob Trask at the wheel recoded the fastest lap time, officially eclipsing the next fastest F1 hull on the water by a massive 1.5 seconds. Even under blustery and unpredictable conditions the new GTR was exceptional.

Come race day and all of the good planning in launching the new Trask Development Corporation/Sea Quest hull was put to the test.

On his qualifying hot lap, Bob Trask was visibly faster than any other driver, taking the opportunity while one out on the course to hang the hull high, floating through the turns.

However, powering through the dog leg right hander, Bob Trask had a huge moment, hooking the hull badly. With a fast lap time all but impossible due to the ‘moment’, Bob Trask completed the remainder of the course well off the pace to ultimately qualify well down the list.

The handling problem was initially thought to be the tricky wind conditions sweeping Newcastle Harbour, but the reality was a fickle trim pump. Mostly it worked, but every now and then it just didn’t move when Bob Trask jabbed the switch.

Throughout the day, the trim pump problems plagued the Trask Development Corporation/Sea Quest boat.

“We had up and down trim operating just fine, but the vital ‘in and out trim’ that sets the attitude of the boat just wouldn’t co-operate,” Bob Trask reflected.

In spite of starting down the list and with an uncertain trim pump, Bob Trask still managed to bring the rig home in fifth place in the opening race. The placing in the second race was also a fifth, while in the final, Bob Trask decided to park the boat at the start dock, posting a DNS.

“The Newcastle event may not have delivered the points in the Australian F1 Superboat series that we sought, but the event at least showed us that we have a real weapon of a boat on our hands,” Bob Trask said.

“I am very pleased with the speed and handling of the GTR Race Boats hull.”

“We will campaign this new hull in Australia for the remainder of the local 2006 series and then take this boat overseas for the 2007 UIM F1 World series.”

The next race contested by the Trask Development Corporation/Sea Quest team will be the UIM F1 World series on Lake Como – Italy on July 16th. Due to a clash of dates, Bob Trask will regrettably miss the next round of the Australian F1 Superboat series which will be staged at Port Macquarie on the same weekend, July 16th.