LOCAL motorsport talent Hudson “Hotlaps” James has emerged from a chaotic Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 with another impressive performance, overcoming treacherous conditions, mechanical dramas and a frightening on-track incident to keep his debut SuperUtes campaign firmly on track.
The 22-year-old arrived on the Gold Coast sitting 11th in the 2026 SuperUtes Series championship standings, determined to bounce back from a bruising Bathurst campaign that had threatened to derail his childhood racing dream.
A heavy crash at Mount Panorama had left his No.68 SuperUte badly damaged, forcing his crew into an extraordinary overnight repair mission to return the vehicle to the circuit for the remaining two races.
But if James thought Bathurst had delivered enough drama for one season, the unforgiving streets of Surfers Paradise had other ideas.
Relentless rain transformed the Gold Coast street circuit into a slippery battleground, with standing water, poor visibility and treacherous braking zones testing even the most experienced competitors.
James opened his campaign with a steady 11th-place finish in Race 1, successfully negotiating the challenging conditions.
However, Race 2 delivered the sort of heart-stopping drama that makes motorsport both thrilling and unforgiving.
Two SuperUtes collided while exiting a chicane, creating a potentially disastrous situation as the remainder of the field charged towards the stranded vehicles at racing speed.
With green flags still being displayed rather than yellow caution flags, concerned spectators desperately attempted to warn approaching drivers of the danger unfolding ahead.
What followed was a remarkable display of driver awareness.
Among those successfully threading their way through the mayhem were Grant Johnson in the No.7 Super-Ute and James in the No.68.
Johnson crossed the finish line in fifth position, while James powered home in sixth, securing a hard-earned result in circumstances where the consequences could easily have been far worse.
Yet even a frightening crash was not the final surprise awaiting the young racer.
A turkey had somehow wandered onto the racing surface, adding a feathered obstacle to a weekend already overflowing with drama.
But while the turkey provided some light relief, the final race presented another serious examination of James’ determination and developing racecraft.
The updated championship standings following the Gold Coast round are yet to be confirmed, with James awaiting his position on the leaderboard heading into the season finale.
With just one round remaining in the 2026 SuperUtes Series in Adelaide, the young racer will be determined to finish his maiden campaign on a high.
