WISEMANS Ferry siblings Lochie and Louise Vella are on the cusp of reaching new heights in the boat racing scene.
Lochie just won the F2 class in the Australian Formula Powerboat Grand Prix (AFPGP), while younger sister Louise recently earned a driver for Team Sweden in the Eurofin Cup.
On August 13 and 14, the final round of the AFPGP was hosted at Grafton.
Lochie came into the weekend trailing fellow Hawkesbury driver Corey Davoll, but emerged a narrow winner.
Louise finished third in the F4 series – which was won by the Hawkesbury’s Tracy Pugsley. Louise was not there for the last round, however, because she was in China racing in the Eurofin Cup for Team Sweden.
Louise followed in the footsteps of Tracey Pugsley’s daughter Briney Rigby-Pugsley, who did the same thing two years ago.
“It was awesome, I loved it, I didn't care where I finished,” she said.
“I just wanted to go over and have a good time and it was such an experience.”
As it turned out, she finished in fourth place. She qualified second in the F4 class, and then during the race, had a spin sending her to the back of the pack, but fought her way back into fourth.
Louise’s racing earned her another invite back to the team.
Louise said she was proud she was able to experience an international race in China, and was looking forward to heading overseas for another round.
“I'm really excited. I loved the last round and I'd do anything to go back again,” she said.
“It is a lot more competitive over there. We only race against five people in our class, but over there you have eight.
“Everyone was so welcoming though. I had people from France and China coming up and telling me what a good race I had. It was such a good experience.”
As for Lochie, he is hoping to step up to the F1 class, possibly as soon as next month, when the Upper Hawkesbury Power Boat Club hosts its Spectacular.
“I'd really like to step up to that now,’ he said. “I am ready to go faster again.”
Lochie raced in the F2 class in the AFPGP for the first time this year, and the championship came down to the final round.
“I had to work for it. The competition in F2 was between Corey Davoll, Simon Troy and myself,” he said.
“I was second to Corey most of the year, and then beat him and then Simon started winning, so it was a real three-way battle between us.
"I think I only won by about 200 points, which is pretty close.”
Lochie said he did not have lofty expectations during his first season racing F2.
“I went into the year maybe expecting a third, but first, I'll take that,” he said.
“It wasn't too bad. It was different. A lot faster [than the F4 class he raced in last year], but I think I picked it up pretty quick.”
