The 3rd round of the Jamaica Millennium Motoring Club’s (JMMC) National Sprint championship was held on Sunday, June 19 in the resort city of Montego Bay at the popular Ironshore venue, and it brought an exciting tarmac season to a close with keen competition on the track amongst drivers vying for the top spots. The event was made possible by advertising partners The Automotive Performance Centre Ltd, Twisted Kilt, ATL Automotive, Beep Beep Tyres, Batteries and Lubricants, The Jamaica Automobile Association, Lloyds of Montego Bay, Liquid Nitro Energy drink, Wards Power Tools, A&B Fashion Signal, KFC, Catherine’s Peak and Tru Juice.
The day dawned bright and clear with the promise of excellent weather and great conditions for racing, but elsewhere in the western Jamaica torrential rainfall was to prevent many patrons from attending the event. Nevertheless, those that made it were treated to some of the closest racing in recent times, as Alan Chen in a turbocharged rear wheel drive Toyota Corolla sponsored by PaveCon Ltd/Allied Trucking swapped fastest times with Kyle Gregg in the naturally aspirated BD Gregg & Bros/Konig Wheels/Tein Suspension Honda Civic between the three 2 lap and the championship 3 lap sections.
In the JA2 class, Maurice Whittingham chose to drive his Toyota Levin rather than the Rear wheel drive Starlet that he competed with the last time at this venue and placed 2nd in the class, with first time Ironshore entrant Daryl King in the Ankara Auto Toyota Starlet in 3rd.
Sebastian Rae in the Walkerswood Foods/Ankara Auto Mitsubishi Mirage RS won the JA3 class ahead of Leroy Spence and Nigel Wilmott who shared the FencePro/Racing Syndicate sponsored Honda CRX.
Ian Wright had a point to prove after spending many hours preparing the 4 wheel drive turbocharged Wrightouch Mitsubishi Colt RS, and the crowd was hushed as he fired up the 2 litre boosted powerplant. Even more oohs and ahhs were heard when he launched it from the start on his 1st run, posting what was to be the 2nd fastest time of the day up to that point. On his 2nd run, a brake rotor gave way after a damaged axle bearing let go, sidelining him for the rest of the day, but his 1st run time was still good for the win of the JC2 class with the “Beastmaster” Ian Edwards in 2nd place in his Mazda 323.
Class JC1 was won by Nigel Edwards in the Team Browns Town Racing/Liquid Nitro Energy Drink/Speedzone Auto Parts VW Golf Gti for the 2nd time this year, ahead of Cleve “Cutta Hype” Ottey in his blue Toyota Starlet.
The national sprint championship for 2011 has continued to include a street car class, now divided into two wheel drive naturally aspirated, two wheel drive forced induction and four wheel drive.
The classes were won by Pernell Fitz-Coy (Toyota Corolla Allex), Douglas “Hollywood” Gore (Audi S5 sedan) and newcomer Kavan Bonner (Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV) respectively, with Bonner winning the award for the most improved street car competitor as well, showing the greatest improvement between his 1st and 3rd runs.
Street Class 2wd NA Car 1st run 2nd run 3rd run Best Time
1. Pernell Fitz-Coy Toyota Corolla Allex 03:33.215 03:24.725 03:12.310 03:12.310
2. Clive Thompson Mini S/wagon 04:25.050 04:14.075 DNS 04:14.075
Street Class 4wd
1. Kavan Bonner Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 4 03:42.390 03:38.890 03:20.110 03:20.110
Street Class 2wd FI
1. Douglas Gore Audi S5 sedan 03:13.885 03:09.355 03:05.615 03:05.615
2. Kirk Marston Toyota Starlet turbo 03:40.035 03:34.470 03:29.570 03:29.570
3. Richard McBean Toyota Starlet turbo 03:48.575 03:42.295 03:32.160 03:32.160
4. Kingsley Scott Toyota Corolla DX 03:47.645 03:45.370 03:32.670 03:32.670
5. Garth Chin VW Passat S/wagon 03:46.210 03:47.475 03:37.130 03:37.130
6. Terri Stubbs Toyota Corolla SR5 DNS 03:45.085 03:41.335 03:41.335
7. David Mullings Toyota Starlet turbo DNS DNS DNS
JA2
1. Kyle Gregg Honda Civic Si 02:23.280 02:25.730 02:21.065 02:21.065
2. Maurice Whittingham Toyota Corolla Levin 02:29.910 02:27.485 02:27.380 02:27.380
3. Daryl King Toyota Starlet 02:32.925 02:29.605 02:31.315 02:29.605
4. Robert BahadourSingh Toyota Corolla SR5 02:36.775 02:45.175 02:54.115 02:36.775
5. Randall Paragon-Singh Toyota Corolla DX 02:43.960 02:43.265 02:41.490 02:41.490
6. Troy Bernard Toyota Starlet 02:56.790 02:52.420 02:51.000 02:51.000
7. Marvin Porteous Toyota Starlet DNF DNS DNS
JA3
1. Sebastian Rae Mitsubishi Mirage RS 02:27.352 02:23.775 02:22.465 02:22.465
2. Leroy Spence Honda CRX 02:33.410 02:28.775 02:29.800 02:28.775
3. Nigel Wilmott Honda CRX 02:44.475 02:33.400 02:30.565 02:30.565
4. Dwain Gayle Honda Integra 02:33.260 02:31.295 DNS 02:31.295
5. Keith Saunders Chevrolet Chevvete 02:36.020 02:31.495 02:31.905 02:31.495
6. Richard Chan Toyota Corolla GT 02:39.615 02:37.145 02:41.460 02:37.145
7. Ricardo Scott Toyota Corolla DNF 03:13.585 03:11.240 03:11.240
JA4
1. Alan Chen Toyota Corolla SR5 02:26.535 02:25.555 02:20.915 02:20.915
JC1
1. Nigel Edwards VW Golf Gti 02:28.125 02:26.265 02:25.020 02:25.020
2. Cleve Ottey Toyota Starlet turbo RWD 02:42.260 02:33.600 02:30.860 02:30.860
JC2
1. Ian Wright Mitsubishi Colt 4wd turbo 02:25.245 02:32.050 DNS 02:25.245
2. Ian Edwards Mazda 323 DNF 02:32.700 02:31.795 02:31.795
3. Dennis Bicarrie Toyota Starlet DNF 03:12.580 03:04.020 03:04.020
Championship 3 lap
1. Kyle Gregg Honda Civic Si 03:29.925
2. Alan Chen Toyota Corolla SR5 03:30.980
3. Maurice Whittingham Toyota Corolla Levin 03:38.275
4. Keith Saunders Chevrolet Chevvete 03:44.955
5. Daryl King Toyota Starlet 03:45.655
6. Leroy Spence Honda CRX 03:46.865
7. Troy Bernard Toyota Starlet 04:12.420
Fastest Overall & fastest 2WD
1. Alan Chen 02:20.915
2. Kyle Gregg 02:21.065
3. Sebastian Rae 02:22.465
Best prepared Nigel Edwards
Most Improved street car Kavan Bonner
Most Improved race car Nigel Wilmott
