Temora V8 Superboat navigator Narelle Pellow-Djukic has continued her winning ways in the opening round of the 2026/27 Australian V8 Superboats competition. Teaming up with driver Phonsy Mullan in the Unlimited class, Pellow-Djukic helped guide Ramjet to victory at a new racing venue at Elmore, Victoria. The population of less than 1000 in the rural Victorian town swelled as the Elmore Events Centre welcomed thousands of spectators when it made its first appearance on the V8 Superboat Championship calendar. Mullan and Pellow-Djukic produced an outstanding performance to emerge triumphant in the Unlimited final, recording 35.494 seconds - the quickest time of any class final. Pellow-Djukic’s role of navigator in the purpose-built, twin-seater jetboat powered by high-performance V8 engines is crucial in the high-speed sport, where split-second decisions and clear communication can make a huge difference. While the driver steers the boat, the navigator provides real-time directions via a helmet-mounted intercom, guiding them through the course’s tight twists and turns at breakneck speeds. The new one-kilometre-long, 3m-wide and 750mm-deep course was built in less than 12 months, with its technical design testing the skills and precision of drivers and navigators, rather than maximum speeds. Ground was broken on the complex jet boat track less than 12 months ago and organisers are already considering improvements ahead of the next event in 2027, including installing a third viewing bank for spectators. The Elmore venue has been secured for two rounds each season over the next five years, with its next event scheduled for 13 March 2027. Attention now turns to round two, which will bring the championship to Lake Centenary, Temora on 28 November.
