Daniel James, Justin Roylance and Brad James celebrate the world series victory.
They say you can’t trust a man with two first names; well as it turns out, you certainly can when it comes to manufacturing world-class V8 superboats.
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Shepparton’s Daniel James became the world's number one manufacturer of building lightweight superboats after facing off against the best-of-the-best earlier this year.
James and his company Pulse Race Boats earned that recognition thanks to some pure jet sprint boat dominance at the UIM World Jetsprint Championship event in New Zealand from late January to early February.
An interest in speed and manufacturing was born for James through speedway racing, but thanks to friends, he quickly developed a passion for V8 superboats and became a world-class racer.
James’ company worked alongside his brother Brad and his company JRE Race Engines to claim the title of world champions.
Pulse Race Boats was started by James in 2020 and has become a premier Australian jet boat manufacturer located at Kilmore, while JRE Race Engines' workshop is on the outskirts of Shepparton.
James said the world of V8 superboat racing was — unsurprisingly — unique and fast. Very fast.
“The superboats go about 140km/h,” James said.
“I think they are about 0-140 in about 2.7 seconds.
“The (race) tracks themselves are purpose-made; they are dug out and that’s how they form all the islands that they run in and out of.
“It is a very unique motorsport where you are racing against a clock, not other people essentially.
“They are high powered and lightweight boats, so they are nimble and quick and very different to drive.”
Although the race tracks are purpose-built in a controlled space, environmental factors such as rain can bring a halt to proceedings due to safety.
James said the world series event in New Zealand was held across 12 days, with the race meets running across two weekends.
“On the Saturday, they have a couple of practice laps to familiarise themselves with the new track,” he said.
“Then they run two qualifiers, then on Sunday they finish off qualifiers and then have elimination rounds.
“Top 12, top nine, top six, top three.
“Quickest boat in the top three wins the event.”
One of Daniel James' boats with one of Brad James' engines competing at the world series event in New Zealand in 2025.
Pulse Race Boats entered all three classes during the world series: Unlimited, A and LS.
The combination of the brothers’ two companies and some fine racing from their drivers led to high-octane domination on the water.
James said he was rapt with the results.
“What we did achieve over there was by winning the highest class (Unlimited), we have actually become number one manufacturer in the world,” he said.
“(Our boats) ran three classes and we won two of them — Unlimited class and LS class.
“(We) came second and third in the group A class.”
With the label of being world number one in his back pocket during the flight home across the pond, James’ mind was already shifting towards what was next.
“We now have plenty of boats to finish off (building for clients) and get out the door,” he said.
“We have another two years until the next world series.
“Now we start planning for the next world series and trying to go back and get all three (classes).”
James and his company’s wild ride to world number one has been supported by many people along the way as he thanked Jmar Engineering, JRE Race Engines and Elephant Design Engineering for their help.
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