It might not be the fans hurtling round ASB Baypark's intricate water track at 125km/h in a V8 jetsprint boat, but those who are warn them to strap in for an action-packed weekend nonetheless.

V8 Jetsprint racing returns to Mount Maunganui for round two of PSP New Zealand Jetsprint Championship coupled with a new addition – the inaugural ENZED Stadium Jetsprint Cup.

Emma Gilmour, the fastest female rally driver in the world, with Paul Gaston behind the wheel. Photo: Luke Balvert.

2014 saw the methanol monsters grace the inside of a stadium – a world first – to the delight of over 15,000 spectators.

And NZ Jetsprint Association president Paul Gaston is predicting even bigger things this year, with organisers ensuring lessons learnt from the inaugural event have been smoothed out.

'It's going to a bit of a change from what we saw last year,” says Paul. 'It's going to be a lot more free flowing and a lot faster as well, so the crowd that came last year - if they return - are going to see a big difference.”

As a result the track has been made longer and some of the curves faster while remaining a narrow and tight challenge for drivers, leaving the 52 teams to reach speeds of more than 125km/h and an impressive 0-100km/h in 1.8 seconds.

Sunday's inaugural ENZED Stadium Jetsprint Cup sees Kiwi teams battling it out with overseas guest teams from Australia, the United States and Canada.

And that's an added edge Paul is looking forward to given the immense overseas interest in last year's event – particularly from the US.

'When we travelled over to the Worlds in the US earlier this year they all knew this event,” he says.

'They didn't know much about the rest of the season, but they all knew about Baypark, which is unbelievable. It's pretty cool.”

And the stadium event already has the thumbs up from the US team with Kyle Patrick, Steve Church and Chris Bowman all blown away by the concept.

This weekend Kyle, into his 12th season in the sport, will get behind the wheel with Steve navigating and Chris part of the support crew taking notes on the event.

'I'm very impressed,” says Chris. 'I think it's a very fast but technical course and I think these guys will have lots of fun racing.”

Another in awe is Kiwi rally driver Emma Gilmour, who after a hot lap with Paul has a new-found respect for the sport.

Accustomed to flying across the gravel as the fastest female rally driver in the world, Emma describes the fast-paced experience as 'mind blowing” - even if it took a touch to get used to being passenger.

And she jokingly adds she isn't ruling out a switch from land to water.

'I'm really keen to have a go and will go from there,” she says. 'I'm better to walk before I can run.”

Gates open to the public at 12pm on Saturday and Sunday with racing underway at 3pm daily. If spectators buy their tickets online at: eventfinder.co.nz tonight by 12pm they will save $10 per ticket.


New Zealand rally driver Emma Gilmour. Photos by Positive Image Photography.