This year’s Haltech Horsepower Heroes event has made a significant mark in automotive history, and at the forefront of this achievement is Darren Portelli's HQ Holden, which claimed victory with an astonishing performance of 3697 horsepower in the finals. This impressive feat not only secured him the title but also followed his earlier record-setting run of 3513 horsepower, which had already surpassed last year’s record held by the MAKDADDY VL Commodore at 2504 horsepower.
"I never anticipated it would reach nearly 3700 horsepower!" exclaimed Darren, clearly thrilled with the outcome. "The cooler weather probably helped out a bit too." His powerhouse vehicle, equipped with a pair of 88mm turbochargers and a robust Dart block Chevrolet engine, earned him the top spot overall and first place in the 8CYL Forced Induction category. In a noteworthy mention, fellow competitor Daniel Szabolics, who is also a customer of Dandy Engines, set a record of 3786 horsepower just the day before. However, unfortunately, technical difficulties prevented them from participating in the finals on Sunday.
Claiming second place overall was Anthony Meskos with his FG Falcon ute, which also made waves by breaking the six-cylinder record for the Barra engine class at the Haltech Horsepower Heroes with a remarkable pull of 2330 horsepower from his de-stroked 3.8-liter engine. He additionally took home accolades for the 6CYL Forced Induction category and received the Boost Demon award after reaching a peak boost of 65 psi!
Taking third overall and placing second in the 8CYL Forced Induction class was last year's champion, Lee and Anna Povey, with their JKLHYD VL Calais. Their twin-turbocharged 427 cubic inch Dart LS engine improved upon its previous winning run of 2109 horsepower, achieving 2117 horsepower this time around.
In the 6CYL Forced Induction class, James Whitfield's HQ One Tonner earned second place. Previously a winner at the Drag Challenge under Stephen Micallef's guidance, this vehicle saw a significant transformation, swapping out its big-block Chevy for a powerful 3.3-liter Dart block 2JZ. With an impressive qualifying run of 1647 horsepower, it finished the finals with a solid 1602 horsepower performance.
The competition also witnessed record-breaking feats in the 8CYL Aspirated category, where Michael Saad’s Mk1 Ford Capri produced just over 1100 horsepower during qualifying from its experimental BK Engines big-block Ford. In the finals, a run of 1097 horsepower confirmed its place in the Summernats dyno hall of fame.
Among other notable performances was Morad Mahmoud’s MACKED R34 GT-R, which qualified with a staggering 2111 horsepower from its 3.4-liter twin cam RB, winning the Spray N Pray award for its use of nitrous. Although he qualified for the finals, Morad chose not to make a run.
In the final 6CYL Aspirated category, Steve Pembrey’s 1985 Toyota Corolla KE70 emerged victorious, featuring a 2GR 3.5-liter V6 engine swap from an Aurion. "I picked it up from a $2000 wreck, and the rear-wheel-drive Celica W57 gearbox fits perfectly," he shared. His Corolla peaked at 285 horsepower, significantly outpacing Rick Yates in an Aussie six LJ Torana, who finished with 188 horsepower.
Once again, the Rev Monster plate was awarded to Ellis "Spike" Dickson for his aspirated 13B rotary-swapped Suzuki Mighty Boy, which impressively reached 11,000 rpm during qualifying.
Dyno operator Adam Rogash always selects a standout build from the weekend, and this year, he highlighted Jamie Seears’ Nissan Silvia S15. The Silvia, still utilizing a 2.0-liter SR20 engine but outfitted with a VE head, achieved a remarkable 803 horsepower while revving up to 10,000 rpm and pushing 35 psi—truly an impressive achievement for a 2.0-liter engine!
Overall, the Haltech Horsepower Heroes event for 2026 showcased an extraordinary array of talent and engineering prowess. Adam Rogash praised all participants, stating, "It has been an amazing year! Who would have thought we’d witness so many records being broken in one event? Three cars surpassed the 3000 horsepower mark, setting new records for GT-Rs, Barras, and aspirated vehicles. A huge shout-out to everyone involved and my crew for their tireless efforts throughout the weekend, making it a standing-room-only spectacle!"
Results from the Haltech Horsepower Heroes Summernats 38 in 2026:
8CYL FORCED INDUCTION
1st: Darren Portelli, HQ Holden – 3697hp
2nd: Lee Povey, VL Calais – 2117hp
3rd: Brett Muscat, VK Commodore – 1779hp8CYL ASPIRATED
1st: Michael Saad, Ford Capri – 1097hp
2nd: Jacob Farrigia, Ford Mustang – 660hp
3rd: Michael Furhnam, XD Falcon – 604hp6CYL FORCED INDUCTION
1st: Anthony Meskos, FPV FG Falcon – 2330hp
2nd: James Whitfield, HQ One Tonner – 1602hp
3rd: Derek Johnson, Toyota Supra – 1548hp6CYL ASPIRATED
1st: Steve Pembrey, Toyota Corolla KE70 – 285hp
2nd: Rick Yates, LJ Torana – 188hp
3rd: Shane Wagner, LC Torana – 176hpSpecial Awards:
Spray N Pay – Morad Mahmoud, Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R
Rev Monster – Ellis Dickson, Suzuki Mighty Boy, 11,000rpm
Torque Titan – Daniel Szabolics, HQ Holden Monaro
Boost Demon – Anthony Meskos, FPV FG, 65psi
Outstanding Engineering – Jamie Seears, Nissan Silvia S15.
