The Modified Sprinter class had their first run in round 2 of the 2009 JAGDAIM XJ6 SPRINTER series held at Phillip Island on Sunday, 5th April.  The new modified class with very few restrictions, competed along side the original XJ6 Sprinters.

The much anticipated duel between the new highly modified Jagdaim sponsored car of Wheeler/Randall and the Sinclair car did not eventuate.  With Wheeler at the wheel the brand new modified engine dropped a cylinder coming onto the main straight, resulting in the car being parked at the rear of the pits.  Garry Randall back for his first run in 2009 didn’t get a chance to test his new hip and had to settle for only1 point in the championship.   

Weather conditions were overcast, the track was cold and with rain threatening, both sprinter classes entered the track for the first timed session.    With both Wheeler & Randall out, Rob Sinclair had an easy win in the modified class with his best time of 1.59.90.  Things were different in the un-modified class with MacKrell leaving the rest of the field in his wake by recording a best time of 2.01.88.  Second was Pearmain (2.04.08) just holding out David Thompson (2.05.12).  Fourth fastest was Tidd (2.07.20) from Crosbie (2.07.76). The last group of sprinters were sitting in dummy grid with rain starting to fall. Entrants, Yorke, Duncalf, and both Foster Senior & Junior decided to withdraw because of the conditions. However, John Larkins (2.37.04) and Kenna (2.54.28) did run and their slow times were due the wet track.  Both Yorke and Duncalf would suffer from not running, as their championship points would be reduced for only completing two runs.

The Foster family did not enter their XJS for this round, with Foster Senior running an XK120 and his son in a MGB. Vaughan Foster who is building a modified sprinter suffered a set back in his build, with a delay in fitting a roll cage.   Their new car probably will not ready for the next round but should be ready for round 4 at Winton.

With rain still falling at the start of the second session, the track was now declared “wet.” Roland Tidd who does not like a wet track withdrew from grid.  Those sprinters who were running in the later group were fortunate with a drier track. These conditions saw Paul Duncalf take his first win with a time of 2.13.08 ahead of Yorke (2.14.13) and Larkins (2.15.99).  Next was MacKrell (2.17.37), from Thompson (2.20.06), Kenna (2.21.55), Sinclair (2.26.33), Pearmain (2.26.59), Crosbie (2.28.41), Foster Jnr (2.37.53) and Foster Snr (2.58.84). 

Tidd again missed the final timed session with the track now declared “dry.”  Sinclair obviously enjoying the dryer conditions posted his best time of (2.00.89) to take the modified sprinter points from Yorke (2.15.17).  The un-modified sprinters produced their third winner for the day with Pearmain (2.04.52), just pipping MacKrell (2.04.62) from Thompson (2.05.40), who is “Mr. Consistent” and now stands second in the un-modified championship points, in only his first season.  Duncalf who was still improving (2.07.76) was in front of Larkins (2.10.45), from Crosbie (2.11.16), Kenna (2.13.91), and Foster Jnr (2.34.06) again ahead of his father (2.58.68).

The placing’s for round 2 were:

XJ6 Sprinters: Trevor MacKrell first, Phil Pearmain second and John Larkins third.
XJ6 Modified Sprinters: Rob Sinclair first, Stephen second and Brian Wheeler along with Gary Randall equal third.

CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS TABLE AND LAP TIMES FOR 2009
JAGDAIM XJ6 SPRINTERS SERIES

CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS TABLE AND LAP TIMES FOR 2009
JAGDAIM XJ6 SPRINTERS SERIES

DNC Did not compete
* NTL No recorded timed lap
** New Lap Record

The next round of the 2009 JAGDAIM XJ6 Sprinter series will be run at Sandown on Sunday 17th May, 2009. The much awaited modified class battle between Wheeler and Sinclair will be interesting. But the real interest is in the un-modified class which is now wide open, with anyone of eight sprinters, separated by only 15 points, capable of greeting the chequered flag.

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