By Esther Lauaki
Phonsy Mullens has brought home a speed boat racing world championship title after a decade chasing the crown.
The Melton V8 Superboat driver and the Ramjet Racing team won the Penrite UIM World Series at Cabarita Beach in New South Wales earlier this month.
The world title is contested every three years, with the Ramjet Racing team having competed in the US, New Zealand and Australia before claiming the silverware this year.
Mullens said it was the first time in 20 years an Australian had won the premier class.
“Finally, to win a world championship after coming so close – twice I was No.2 in the world,” he said.
“I probably had my shot to win at least one of those times, with a $2 part costing me the win. But first past the post wins. You’ve got to get
the boat across the line and you’ve got to be able to drive it the whole day and get the job
done.”
Mullens said that to take the cup from five-time world champion New Zealand driver Peter Caughey made the victory even sweeter.
“We definitely didn’t leave much on the table in the final, but water conditions dropped and there were a lot of boats getting spat out and people going the wrong way and running aground,” he said.
“It was pretty hard … Peter Caughey has been a fantastic world champion. He’s even helped me at times and he originally built my boat.
“I actually really like racing him.”
Watch Mullens take the win: bit.ly/2OO8bgi
