Aussie Racing

[Ciao]

Fiery crash mars powerboat event
Monday, 23 May 2005.

The offshore powerboat racing series in Newcastle yesterday was disrupted when two boats collided at the entrance to Newcastle harbour and one was burnt to the water line.

The race had just got under way at 11:30am AEST when the Melbourne entrant, Global Racing, collided with the Gold Coast boat, Triple X and caught fire.

Although Triple X suffered minor damage and had to pull out of the race, Global Racing, worth around $600,000 was left to burn and eventually towed back to the wharf.

Race director Russell Embleton says the two men on board escaped without injury.

"[They got a] little bit wet, but they were both in the water and waiting to be retrieved by rescue crews before the fire had really taken hold," he said.

The race was eventually restarted on a shorter circuit and the Gold Coast's Maritimo took out the event.