LUCKY PHIL… OR HAS HIS LUCK RUNOUT?

Following his disastrous last round at Sandown, Phil Pearmain was wondering if his luck would change so that he could hold onto his slender lead and take out the 2007 JAGDAIM XJ6 SPRINTERS CHAMPIONSHIP. With the last round to be run at Sandown on 3rd November, Phil was just 9 points in front of Sinclair with Wheeler 13 points in arrears.

With practice completed, Pearmain was the first Sprinter onto the track just as a light drizzle of rain started to fall. Despite the slippery track, Phil was able to record a respectable time of 1.33.37. The track was declared wet for the next group of Wheeler 1.31.07, Robinson third fastest 1.33.60 and John Larkins 1.40.24. The third group of Sinclair, Kenna, Randall, Duncalf and Anthony Larkins had the benefit of a drying track. Sinclair’s best time of 1.33.65 ahead of Anthony Larkins (driving his father’s sprinter for this round) 1.36.40, Randall 1.3722, Duncalf 1.40.24 and Kenna 1.41.61 completed the first session.

With Wheeler reducing Phil’s lead to 10 points the second timed session commenced with series leader, Pearmain’s sprinter stopping on the back straight on it’s first lap. Was Phil’s luck finally running out? Without recording a lap time, Phil could only receive the minimum 8 points for the session, which would see his championship points lead reduced to just 8 points from his main threat, Wheeler. If Phil’s Sprinter was not repaired before the final session, Brian would be contesting the Championship with Sinclair.

And so Wheeler attacked the track with some glimmer of hope in snaring the Championship from Pearmain. Brian was on a mission and managed to reduce his time down to 1.30.85 but in doing so, he also managed to flat spot the front near-side tyre. Robinson was also on the move with a best time of 1.31.78 (which is possibly the fastest the Sprinter he shares with Kenna, has ever traveled. John Larkins was also faster with 1.38.32.

Returning to the pits, Brian on checking the front near side tyre found that the flat spot was scrubbed down to the canvas and would have to be replaced. Brian was busy in the paddock, using a hacksaw to cut the padlock securing the spare tyres on his trailer. Somehow, the key for the padlock was missing and with time running out Brian was desperate to replace the tyre.

As if there was not enough drama in the pits, with Phil trying to solve the problem that had cut out all the electrics to his Sprinter, Rob Sinclair missed the dummy grid for his group’s second timed session. If Rob could not secure another run, then his chances for the Championship would be over. Meanwhile the rest of the sprinters made it onto the track. Randall was fastest with 1.36.28 closely followed by Anthony Larkins 1.36.62 and then Duncalf 1.39.47 just holding out Kenna 1.39.75.

Sinclair managed to secure his second run and was third fastest overall with 1.32.71 and so it was to come down to the final session for not only the day but the 2007 Championship.

Phil had solved his electrical problem, the starter motor lead had dislodged, shorting out on the body and boiling the battery. With the battery replaced and the sprinter running, Phil was pondering, what else could go wrong as he lined up for his final run? It wouldn’t take long to find out as the engine in his sprinter started to make strange noises. Having completed 2 laps, Phil decided to pull over, rather than risk blowing his engine and must have been wondering if his times were fast enough.

Robinson, John Larkins and Wheeler all completed their laps, slightly slower than the previous session. The remainder of the sprinters led by Sinclair recording his fastest lap for the day, 1.32.22 also completed the session without any problems and so the 2007 JAGDAIM XJ6 Sprinters Championship was decided. Phil’s luck on the track had held and with a margin of only 5 points, Phil was declared the 2007 Champion. However, his luck off the track had not improved when having loaded his sprinter onto the trailer he realized that one of the tryes on the trailer was punctured.

The final standings were Pearmain (89), Wheeler just taking 2nd (84) from Sinclair (83). The rest of the points table is shown below. Congratulations to Anthony Larkins winning the 2007 Lites Championship

Congratulations to Phil Pearmain for becoming the 2007 Champion, to all the drivers and pit crews who competed but in particular our series sponsor, JAGDAIM who made 2007 another great year in the history of the Sprinters.

The first round for the 2008 JAGDAIM Sprinter series will be run at Sandown on Sunday 10th February.

Ross Coles
Secretary
Jaguar XJ Sprinters Drivers Association
Contact: 0417351304 or email: secretary@jagsprinters.org

CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS TABLE AND LAP TIMES FOR 2007 SERIES
JAGDAIM XJ6 SPRINTERS SERIES

JAGDAIM XJ6 LITES SERIES

* DNC Did not compete
* NTL Did not record a timed lap
** New Lap Record