Text by Dean Corrodus
Photos by Donovan Montaque & Michael Samuels.
Close competition fueled exciting racing on an extended track at the Palm Springs Raceway in Brighton, Santa Cruz, St. Elizabeth on Sunday, when the Jamaica Millennium Motoring Club hosted the third round of the national sprint championship at the beautiful, palm lined venue.
Class JA2
The highly subscribed JA2 class that has seen the fiercest competition since the season started again delivered on its top billing. Matthew Gore driving the Team Mobay Racing Toyota Starlet finally upstaged Jordan Powell in the R & B Auto parts Toyota Corolla FX who has had a run of three straight sprint victories and a rally victory in the class for two wheel drive cars with an engine capacity up to 1600cc. Gore posted a fastest time of 2 mins.04.44 secs. ahead of Powell in 2.05.080 and Maurice Whittingham in third 2.11.080 driving the Team Mad Dem/Carz Rehab Toyota Corolla Levin. Team Challenger racing’s Tony Fu completed the class in a Toyota Corolla GT, posting a best time of 2.22.045.
Gore with the spoils of victory.
Powell (left) and Whittingham.
Class JA3.
In the next higher JA3 class for 2 wheel drive cars up to 2000cc, Dean Corrodus came out on top for the third time this season in the Maxxis Tyres/Automotive Performance Centre Ltd/ATL Automotive Racing Honda Civic Type R, despite only completing one timed run due to fuel system and driveline problems on the 1st and 3rd runs. Gentleman racer Keith Saunders in “old Faithful”, his rear wheel drive Chevrolet Chevette with a Toyota 7a engine, was again 2nd in class as he has been all season with a best time of 2.13.06.
Two different ways to displace dirt. From the front (left) with Corrodus’ Honda Civic Type R and from the rear with Saunders’ Chevrolet Chevette.
JN8 and JA8
Spencer Whittingham driving the MegaMart sponsored Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution V had his second overall sprint event win of the season when he posted the fastest time of the day on his 3rd timed run: doing 2 min. 03.045 sec over the two laps. Richard Chan driving the Team Challenger Racing/Excel Electronic Security Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution V was busy having fun and enjoying the track to the fullest on his way to posting a time of 2.08.855 for the top prize in the JA8 category.
Whittingham (left) and Chan.
In the 3 lap championship run, Powell got the best of the entire field with a scorching time of 3.06.065, with Gore losing his front right brake rotor on his 3rd la but managing to place 2nd with a time of 3.06.655. Spencer Whittingham, Corrodus and Maurice Whittingham completed the top 5.
Results
Car 1st run 2nd run 3rd run Best Points
JA2
1. Matthew Gore Toyota Starlet 2.11.530 2.07.955 2.04.44 2.04.44 130
2. Jordan Powell Toyota Corolla FX 2.12.250 2.07.035 2.05.280 2.05.080 100
3. Maurice Whittingham Toyota Corolla Levin 2.19.050 2.13.980 2.11.11 2.11.11 80
4. Tony Fu Toyota Corolla GT DNF 2.22.045 DNF 2.22.045 70
JA3
1. Dean Corrodus Honda Civic DNF 2.10.785 DNF 2.10.785 70
2. Keith Saunders Chevrolet Chevette 2.18.955 2.15.375 2.13.06 2.13.06 50
JN8
1. Spencer Whittingham Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution V 2.05.405 2.07.77 2.03.045 2.03.045 50
JA8
1. Richard Chan Mitsubishi Lancer Evoltion IV DNF 2.11.61 2.08.855 2.08.855 50
Championship Run
1. Jordan Powell 3.06.065 20
2. Matthew Gore 3.06.655 15
3. Spencer Whittingham 3.07.565 12
4. Dean Corrodus 3.10.315 10
5. Maurice Whittingham 3.15.655 8
6. Richard Chan 3.17.843 6
7. Tony Fu 3.18.55 4
8. Keith Saunders DNF 3
Powell continues to lead the Overall JMMC Rally sport driver’s championship after 4 events now with a total of 510 points, with 2010 Drivers champion Gore in 2nd place on 370 and 2006 and 2009 Champion Corrodus in 3rd on 270.
The next event on the motorsports calendar will be the JMMC Dexterity #3, Blockbuster “We set the trend!” at Meikle’s Block Factory, Spur Tree, Manchester on March 25.
