WINTON WRECKS WHEELER

The 2006 Champion, Brian Wheeler driving the JAGDAIM series sponsor’s Sprinter may have wrecked his chances for 2007 at Winton with an early retirement.  In fact the fourth round was to have been Dirk Redel’s testimonial drive as he is making way for Garry Randall in the JAGDAIM sprinter.

Team JAGDAIM was not the only one experiencing mechanical problems with several HSV cars coming to grief, two blowing $20,000 & $10,000 race engines and a third HSV experiencing brake failure, causing it to spin and reverse into a concrete wall.

So what else could go wrong?  …The first group of Jaguars hit the track with Wheeler, Pearmain, Rob Sinclair and rookie David Robinson.  Hugh Sinclair did not run in this group but would change groups for the next session. 

Wheeler was charging hard and his first lap 1.41.6 was just 5/100’s second outside the existing lap record.  Pearmain was second fastest with a 1.46.5, followed by Robinson 1.49.5 and Sinclair 1.51.9, who was having trouble with a sticking accelerator.  The next lap saw Wheeler faster with a 1.41.5 and Robinson managed to get down to a 1.47.7 for the last lap but more excitement was to come.  

On the final lap Wheeler slipped under Pearmain at the end of the V8 straight but was carrying too much speed as he entered the esses and his car started to slide sideways.  Pearmain took evasive action and both cars appeared to be competing in a Drift Competition as they slid in a synchronized formation.  The rear off side tyre on Wheeler’s sprinter got onto the dirt and as he kept his foot into it, the wheel came back onto the track and as it gripped the bitumen, the teeth on third gear broke.  Both Wheeler and Pearmain turned their cars in the other direction and drifted out of the esses onto the old main straight to greet the chequered flag.  Unfortunately the gear box was broken and the JAGDAIM Sprinter was retired for the event with Redel failing to get a run.  

The second group of Jaguars of MacKrell, Kenna, Crosbie and Anthony Larkins did not record a first lap as the experienced John Larkin’s sprinter caused the red flag to be shown.  John was flying up the end of the V8 straight, noting that the engine was revving freely, and left the car in 3rd gear.  As he braked for the esses, he went into robot mode and changed down from what he thought was 4th to 3rd only to find that he was now in 2nd gear with the engine over revving.  The conrod bolt let go destroying the engine and the car left a trail of oil through the esses onto the old straight.  

After cleaning the track the rest of the field returned with MacKrell taking the honours with a 1.49.3, then Kenna 1.52.9, Crosbie 1.53.3 and Anthony Larkins 2.00.8 who came in early with fuel problems.

The second session without Wheeler, Redel and John Larkins was still exiting with the 2007 Championship leader, Pearmain fastest with 1.47.0, closely hounded by Robinson 1.47.1 just in front of MacKrell 1.47.6.  Next were Rob Sinclair 1.50.2, Crosbie 1.52.8, Kenna 1.53.1, A. Larkins 200.2 and Hugh Sinclair 2.03.3 having his first timed run for the day along with oil leaks preventing faster times.

The final timed session went without any problems with Pearmain recording his fastest time for the day 1.45.7.  Robinson 1.47.2 was just in front of MacKrell 1.47.6 from Rob Sinclair 1.48.3, Crosbie 1.52.7, Kenna 1.53.6, H. Sinclair 1.57.4 and A. Larkins 2.01.6.The super sprints run at the end of the day proved a highlight for both Trevor MacKrell and Hugh Sinclair with both drivers recording their fastest laps for the day with 1.46.8 and 1.57.0 respectively.    

The round winners were Pearmain (Sprinters) and Anthony Larkins (Lites) but the 2007 Sprinter series is still wide open with Pearmain out in front but closely pressured by Wheeler (20 points in arrears) and Robinson and MacKrell just as fast as Pearmain.  The Championship will go down to the wire with just 2 rounds at Sandown remaining.