Category: Race Reports

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TOVEY STARTS TITLE DEFENCE WITH A WIN

Classic 2CV Champion Kris Tovey started his title defence in the best possible was, with a comfortable win at Cadwell Park.

Nick Crispin was on pole with Tovey alongside for a very wet race one.

It was Crispin who snatched the early lead, from Tovey, Sandro Proietti, Brian Heerey, Matthew Hollis and Martin Riman, after Bull had spun out of second at Charlies.

“I got a good start, but my car didn’t like the conditions,” said Crispin. “I was flying, just behind Nick and then got tapped on the rear corner. It sent me into a tank slapper and I kissed the barrier, before restarting last,” Bull added.

Tovey was soon pressing Crispin for the lead. “I had checked out where I thought I was strongest on the first lap, so got a good run out Mansfield on lap two and went inside at the Mountain to get the lead, “Tovey explained.

Heerey and Hollis were having a great duel for fourth, which began to bring them closer to Proietti and Crispin. On lap four it was Heerey leading the quartet, as Tovey’s lead increased.

“I was locked together with Nick on the straight and got past into Park, but then went wide just trying to stay on,” said Heerey.

“Brian and Matt both got me, as I was losing so much time through Charlies, searching for grip, then they had me on the straight into Park,” Crispin added.

So by the end of lap five it was Tovey, from Heerey, Hollis, Crispin and Julie Walford, with Proietti down to sixth.

“I had been chasing Nick for second and went straight on at the Hairpin, then got Brian and went straight on again. I had braked too late for Mansfield, then rejoined in neutral and got hit up the rear by Martin Riman,” Proietti explained.

“I just made sure I maintained a safe distance, as I could see them fighting behind,” said Tovey, whose KT Motorsport car took the flag 10.6 secs clear of Heerey for his win.

The battle for third had allowed Heerey to consolidate second too, but third place went down to the wire.

“I was in fourth behind Matt Hollis, but he went wide at the Hairpin on the last lap. I avoided him, but he bounced back and crossed my path and I couldn’t avoid him a second time,” Crispin explained, as he recovered to complete the podium.

With Hollis out, Bull completed a superb recovery by claiming fourth on the last lap. “I just started driving through the field, picking them off and got fastest lap. The car was just great in the wet,” he said.

Proietti finally came home fifth, with Simon Turner completing the top six, after he took Riman on the last lap.

While Riman retained seventh, Ethan Sparrow, Chris Yates and Roy Eastwood rounded off the top 10, after Julie Walford had joined Hollis and Nicholas Home in retirement.

Andi Donaldson and Seb Jones-White were next home, with Giles Owen, Martin Arrowsmith-Brown, Chris Hall, Colin Etchells, Laurence Broadhurst and Howard Wright completing the finishers, all fairly spread out.

The second race finally took place at the end of the day, but after just three laps it was red flagged and restarted. “I was leading when it was stopped, it was great,” said Bull.

“I was second at the end of lap one, Sandro went for me at Hall Bends but I caught up again, then lost it at Barn, and broke the steering rack bringing out the red flags,” Heerey explained.

“I got an early break with Nick and Bully and was pushing for the lead until it was stopped when Brian went off,” added Proietti.

“I had been swapping between second and fourth and was right behind Brian when he crashed, the second car to crash in front of me,” Crispin started.

The grid was a bit chaotic for the restart, with added confusion of how many laps the restart would be.

“I got a good start again and led for a while,” said Proietti. But both and Crispin were in the fight too, but after just five laps, the chequered flag was readied, but the order far from settled.

“Crispin was chasing Proietti on the last lap and so I got a double car tow from third down the Straight and led into Park,” said Bull.

“I was side by side with Alex Cockhill for third through the Gooseneck, following Bull and Proietti for the lead,” Crispin added.

Proietti still hadn’t given up however on snatching back his lost lead. “Bully got me on the inside at Park, but I had more speed onto the Mountain. I had just nosed ahead but offline and ran off onto the grass, “he explained.

So it was a maiden victory for Bull, with Crispin and debutant Cockhill completing the podium, as Proietti recovered to retain fourth.

George Broadhurst had managed to consolidate fifth, with Oswin completing the top six, with Luca Proietti, Donaldson and Turner following.

It’s just three weeks before the Championship heads North again, for a double-header at Croft on May 18/19^th.

THIRD SUCCESSIVE WIN FOR 2CV LION, TITLE FOR O’KEEFFE, BUT DISAPPOINTMENT FOR CRISPIN!

There are always some dramas in the annual Classic 2CV 24hr race and this years 31st event was no exception.

Pete Sparrow had the lead from the start for 2CV Lion and was soon breaking clear with Crisis @ Tete Rouge’s Alec Graham, but the dramas had already begun, with DD Racing’s Patrick Mason starting from the pitlane.

“We had brake problems right through practice and qualifying and we had no brakes just before the race. We sent Patrick out and he gave the thumbs up after one lap and then went for it,” said Nick Crispin, who needed to finish 13th or above to become the Champion.

Car Caryl became an early stopper with Kris Tovey. “It was fuel starvation when a one-way valve broke and blocked the breather, but it cost us 12 laps,” said team mate Louis Tyson after vacating an early third.

Tovey’s demise made it a duel for third, between Rally Racers Freddie Martin-Dye and Pork Pie Racing’s Jonathan Harmer, until they headed pitwards too.

“I was watching the cylinder temperature rise and the other one blew going into the Wilson hairpin,” said Harmer.
Martin -Dye was still in third at the first hour, but soon followed. “The front arm broke but I got it back to the pits,” said Martin-Dye.

The first driver changes had taken place at around the 90 minute mark, but two hours in and it was still Tete Rouge and 2CV Lion out in front, with Nick Roads and David O’Keeffe at the wheel.

“That was a good stint racing against Alec and I was happy just to sit back on occasions while he attacked the Minis,” said Sparrow.

“Just love racing with Pete, toe to toe in a proper duel,” Graham added.

Twin Snails were up to third with Paul Rowland having taken over from James Northfield, while in fourth was DD Racing with James Dartiailh in for Mason, from Iceni’s James Bromley and Hollis Motorsport’s Matthew Hollis.

By the five-hour mark the skies were starting to darken, but Tete Rouge had gone a lap up on 2CV Lion, while third was now Team Gadget, from Iceni, Hollis and DD.

DD’s Dartiailh had been lucky though to make it back to the pits with just a hairs thickness of throttle cable connected.

Twins Snails lost ground with a broken throttle cable clip and the Orange Frog squad had a tow back after running out of fuel, as well as an electrical problem. “Bad strategy,” they reckoned.

Both Sparrow and Adnitt did longer stints during the night for 2CV Lion “We did two three-hour stints each,” Adnitt confirmed, after they began to take charge from midnight.

By half distance it Tete Rouge had lost 10 laps on the leaders, but were still in second, but only 24 seconds clear of Team Gadget, with Car Caryl closing in.

As the morning dawned on another sunny and warm day, many teams were reflecting on their dramas so far, but into the final quarter it was 2CV Lion all the way.

“The stops worked well but when Pete came in about 11am we found a puncture,” said Adnitt. Sparrow finally ended his weekend at 1pm, handing to O’Keeffe to finish. “We had one engine mount gone, the engine lifted a bit but we managed,” said Sparrow.

From the end of the 19th hour though Car Caryl had ousted Crisis @ Tete Rouge from second. “Well I was stalking the Frogettes under the bridge and couldn’t resist their rear end. The next thing I was in there, a schoolboy error but I damaged our fan. The car then overheated and I had to pit,” Graham explained.

Team Gadget had also suffered in the early darkness hours. “We had a tow back after stopping at the end of the pitlane, It was a blocked jet and we also had contact with a Mini after it spun,” Ainslie Bousfield explained.

So Peter Rundle took over the Car Caryl seat for the final stint to seal second, eight laps off the lead, but nine clear of Crisis @ Tete Rouge.

Some sterling work from the Twin Snails crew saw Martin Riman take the flag in fourth, after a dramatic final four hours for hopeful champion DD Racing.

With three hours to go Dartiailh was fourth, despite having been towed back when a coil connection failed during the night. Crispin had pitted with a broken wheel around dawn, but when the final stop was made a change of gearbox was required due to an exploding flywheel which destroyed the gearbox casing.

The whole of the pitlane came together to make sure the car got out and with 34 minutes left on the clock, Crispin rejoined. But that wasn’t the end, as the brake problem was back and he was off at Murrays on his out lap.
Into the pitlane with no brakes on three wheels, he struggled to stop the car in the pit garage. But the helpers got to work, as they need to take the flag still for the title. Mason jumped in, made it to the flag for the final lap, only for them to be excluded. “Car 89, Disqualified from race result – Clerk’s Decision, C.1.1.5 applies – Driving in a manner incompatible with general safety.”

Lion Hangrohe finally took fifth, after a number of exchanges with the Hollis car during the closing hours.

“We did most of the race with three shock absorbers and a misfire,” Matthew Hollis confirmed.

Nico Breaux finally brought the Orange Frog’s home in seventh too, with Team ECAS, Team Gadget and Blueberry Tarts the rest of the top 10.

TOYSHED TAKE SECOND SUCCESSIVE WIN IN THRILLING FINALE
After 24 hrs and 714 laps of the Snetterton Circuit, we are usually talking laps apart in the final classification, not so in the Mini Grands this year!

The Toyshed trio of Andy and Chris Slade with Michael Dryden had been in contention from the start, but after APO and Not Fast But Furious had lost ground, it became a personal duel from 1am to the chequered flag some 14hrs later, with Slarky Malaky’s Neil and Ian Slark, with Tom Grindall and Ryan Taylor.

At half distance Slarky had a six-seconds lead, with Misfits six laps down in third, followed Not Fast But Furious and Mini-Uns, with APO sixth and 28 laps adrift, having led at midnight.

“We had distributor problem and headgasket, so lost 45 minutes,” said APO’s James May.

“Apart from a couple of front tyres breaking up, it was going well for us,” added Toyshed’s Chris Slade.

“We had some front tyre wear too and split a CV,” confirmed Slarky’s Neil Slark.

There was just no splitting the lead duo throughout the morning and with two hours to go the gap was just 0.210 secs in Toyshed’s favour.

The gap had been around eight seconds, but it came down and down in the final minutes and they started the last lap 1.520 secs apart.

“For the last 25 minutes I had the fuel light on too, but we made it,” said Chris Slade, as he sealed the win for Toyshed with just 1.148 secs to spare. “I tried my best, but I was on three cylinders at the end,” Slarky Malarky’s Neil Slark replied.

Neven Kirkpatrick handed to Stephen Rideout to bring the Misfits car home, after Dave Rees and Paul Ogborn shared.

It almost went unnoticed that that they too finished third, but still on the lead lap too.

Mini-Uns, Not Fast But Furious and APO completed the top six, in a remarkable race.

Full result sheet: https://www.tsl-timing.com/file/?f=BARC/2022/223421snt.pdf

33RD 2CV 24 HOURS – SNETTERTON

TOVEY TAKES THE SPOILS AND CHAMPIOSHIP TITLE

There were the usual dramas, the usual surprises and even the weather turned for the final half hour. But the KT Racing trio of Kris Tovey, Louis Tyson and Peter Rundle proved to be the dominant force, having led the hourly round up from the third to the chequered flag.

Twin Snails had problems before taking the start, which left James Northfield playing catch up from a pitlane start.

It was Minis to the fore from lights out, with Pete Sparrow heading the 2CV’s for 2CV Lion after the first lap, with Tovey already in second.

Misfits and Team Toyshed soon made a break for the overall lead, with Not Fast but Furious joining them, while Sparrow, Tovey, Team Gadget’s Tom Perry and Pork Pie Racing’s Jon Harmer were line astern at the head of the 2CV field.

But Sparrow was soon heading pitwards for a very early engine change and as the first hour was completed Not Fast but Furious’s Alice Hughes led a Mini filled top seven, from Toyshed, Mini Frog and APO, while Crisis at Tete Rouge’s Ian Gibbon, Harmer and Perry were line astern for the 2CV’s before a 3.4 secs gap to Tovey.

Sparrow had lost 11 laps, after the crankshaft had broken, but two more shortstops were required for jet adjustments.

Super Scheneke with Jelly Snake were early stoppers too when Ian Pearson came in for an engine change, followed soon afterwards by Team Gadget and Giles Owen in the Lion-Hansgrohe car.

Twins Snails came in with a plug lead off as they swapped Northfield for Paul Rowland, but at the front APO, Not Fast but Furious, Slarky Malarky and Toyshed led the way for Mini Grands, after both Mini-Uns and Mini Frog had gone a lap down at the two-hour mark.

It was into the third hour and into the night that KT really came to the fore, with Tyson and Rundle keeping Tovey’s title aspirations on track too.

But the Crisis at Tete Rouge quartet of Gibbon, Brian Heerey, Nick Roads and Andrew Bull continued to head the pursuit, but by midnight they were a lap apart, but still fifth and sixth behind the leading Mini quartet.

Misfits and Slarky Malarky had escaped the rest of the Minis, with APO and Not Fast but Furious both a lap down.
Crisis at Tete Rouge and Pork Pie had managed to pull a gap too, duelling for fifth overall as well as the 2CV advantage, but KT were waiting in the wings in third.

Pork Pie Racing had slipped down the order to 12th in the 2CV’s and Team Gadget were trying to fight back in eighth, behind SL, Twin Snails, 2CV Lion, Blueberry Muffins and Rosie/Walford Racing.

Through the night and as dawn broke the pitlane was full of dramas with few teams escaping some sort of catastrophe.

“Our first stop was when the lumenition broke and at about 11.30pm we were sixth, then I got up at 3am and we were nearly last, having lost two engines. Tom, Sandro Proietti and Nick Home all had problems and we rebuilt one engine in the car. Just before 9am another one went, but we saved 12 laps by not having tow back, but lost 80 and finally threw the towel in,” explained Team Gadget’s Simon Clarke.

Second placed Crisis at Tete Rouge hadn’t escaped either. “The engine went after the flywheel had exploded, so it was hard getting the engine out and we continued with only half a bell housing too,” said Heerey. “When it went I thought everything had gone,” said Roads, who was driving at the time.

Rosie/Walford Racing had briefly been in second too during the night, “Steve Walford was in the car when the rear suspension broke about 5am and pitched him into the air, so we had to be dragged back to the pits,” said Mick Storey.

But it was still plain sailing at the front for KT, who were third overall too at the completion of 15 hours, “I had done the start for about 2 1/2hrs and then got in again at 10pm and 3am. I think we had the least number of stops, no crisis but just a brief concern over a possible oil leak, which came to nothing,” said Tovey.

2CV Lion had started to make a comeback, “we lost 3 ½ engines as we managed to make one good one from two, “ said David O’Keeffe, who had forecast the traumas ahead before the race had started.

Dilligaf Racing had also fought back after a number of crises. “Sean Sidley broke the fan, the clutch pedal broke when James Dartiailh was in the car, then it was the offside shocker, followed by the nearside one, but I did hit a Mini, when it spun in front of me,” Nick Crispin explained.

Slarky Malarky had taken charge at the head of the field through the night, with Ian and Neil Slark joined by Ryan Taylor and former 24hr race winner and 2CV Alec Graham, making his Mini debut.

After a torrential rainstorm, including hail stones and a couple of very late safety car interventions, Neil Slark finally took the flag four laps clear of the Misfits quartet of Neven Kirkpatrick, Dave Rees, Stephen Rideout and Paul Ogborn.

Not Fast but Furious had been in contention until about 8am ish, with Alice and Bethany Hughes, sharing with Robyn English and Sam Bowler, but after English had an off it was race over.

So third overall was the KT Racing trio, 12 laps clear of the Toyshed Mini and 17 clear of Crisis at Tete Rouge, were took second best 2CV.

The APO Mini of Alex Osborne, James May and Tom Matton was brought home to the flag by Lee Poolman, sounding very flat, while completing the 2CV podium in seventh overall were Twin Snails, with Martin Riman, Luca Proietti, Rowland and Northfield.

Next up were the Rosie/Walford Racing car of Steve and Julie Walford, with Mick Storey and Ethan Sparrow, followed by Lion Hansgrohe’s Owen, Roy Eastwood and Max Wyer, from ECAS Glenn Oswin, Howard Wright, Martin Sunderland and Matthew Arrowsmith-Brown, after Dilligaf slipped from the top six, after stopping out on track.

So, the Champion is crowned and the season is over, as we look forward to 2024.

Full result sheet: https://www.tsl-timing.com/file/?f=BARC/2023/2334212cv.pdf

TOVEY SETS THE PACE AGAIN

It’s rare for anyone to take a dominant win in 2CV Racing, but that was the case for Kris Tovey in the first of the weekend races at Oulton Park.

Andrew Bull led the charge down the Avenue, as Tovey duelled for second with Sandro Proietti. “I had great traction at the start, but was too hot into Island and it snapped away from me,” said Bull.

“He was sideways so I sneaked through on the inside,” added Tovey as he led into Shell, from Nick Roads, Proietti, David O’Keeffe, Max Wyer and Nick Crispin, with Bull recovering in eighth, behind Chris Yates.

Tovey soon began to extend his lead on the damp track, with Roads consolidating second initially. Crispin was on the move too, into fourth at the expense of O’Keeffe, who had sixth placed Julie Walford closing on him.

Roads exited wide at Cascades on a lap three, compromising his run along Lakeside, as Proietti, Crispin and O’Keeffe all charged by. But Crispin then squeezed past Proietti into Knickerbrook after cresting Hilltop side by side and it was now a six-car train for second up Clay Hill.

With Tovey long gone, Crispin started to get away in second too, but once he was back into third, O’Keeffe closed in again and went nose to tail through Knickerbrook on lap five, as Proietti led seven cars vying for fourth, from Bull, Walford, Roads, Matthew Hollis, Yates and Ethan Sparrow.

Tovey took his win by over 15 seconds, “I really didn’t expect to get away like that and I was just able to pick my own lines,” he said.

Crispin just held off O’Keeffe to retain second, “it went much better after the hub problem in qualifying. David was very close but I knew where I was quickest and kept him behind,” he said.

“I thought about a late lunge for the last three laps or so, but didn’t want to hit Nick,” O’Keeffe replied.

Proietti looked to be heading for fourth, until it all went wrong on the last lap. “I got a good start, but as the track started to dry it became a handful and they were queuing to get by, then I went wide at Cascades on the last lap,” he explained.

Bull fought back to take fourth, from Sparrow, while Proietti managed to reclaim sixth from Roads, who also lost out to Yates in sight of the finish.

Hollis was ninth with Walford completing the top 10, after she had to slow due to brake problems, but still had plenty in hand to keep Wyer at bay.

Simon Turner was next up, with Nicholas Home 12th, just ahead of Martin Riman.

Giles Owen was on his own in 14th, while Matthew Arrowsmith-Brown, Shirley Hennessy and Seb Jones-White came home in line for 16th.

Chris Hall, Andi Donaldson and Howard Wright all made it home, with Laurence Broadhurst completing the finishers a lap down, after Storey and Etchells retired.

The second race was due to be 15 minutes, but was reduced to 12.

Luca Proietti led into Old Hall on a damp track, but was soon under pressure. “They had a better run out of Cascades,” he said as Tovey was ahead, with Pete Sparrow in the Walford car, Bull, O’Keeffe and Hollis all challenging.

Sparrow snatched second as the lead trio made the break on lap two, leaving Bull a solitary fourth. Hollis and O’Keeffe had little between them in the dual for fifth, but after a strong start Wyer started to fall back, as Riman advanced.

There had been a few exchanges at the front, but Sparrow finally took charge and took victory by 0.350 secs from Tovey. “I was a bit sideways exiting Knickerbrook lap after lap, but I don’t mind losing to Pete,” said Tovey.

Proietti was still in with a shout until the last lap, “then I went wide at Druids,” he said as he still held onto third. “Lonely but challenging,” said fourth placed Bull, who managed to stay well clead of O’Keeffe.

“It was bone dry at Shell but damp elsewhere, but I just concentrated on keeping it on the black stuff,” O’Keeffe explained, after escaping from Hollis after three laps.

Riman had climbed to seventh, but then started to lose ground again on the last lap. “I picked up a small misfire and the chasing cars got a run on me into Island on the last lap,” he explained. Seventh had become ninth by the flag, as both Yates and Roads got by, while Mick Storey headed a three-car train for 10th, from Ainslie Bousfield and Wyer.

Crispin battled through from the back of the grid to take 13th, from Jones-White, Turner, Hennessy, Neal Graham and Glenn Oswin, while Donaldson, Etchells, Wright, George Broadhurst and Jennifer Hall were a lap down, with Knight completing the finishers two laps down.

That’s the end of the 2CV Sprint season, as all eyes are now on Snetterton’s August Bank Holiday weekend, for the 33rd running of the annual 24hr race.

HONOURS EVEN FOR CRISPIN & TOVEY

It was non stop action all the way through both sprint races, in the 2CV Championships annual visit to Pembrey.

Dilligaf’s Nick Crispin led race one into Hatchetts, from KTR’s Kris Tovey, 2CV Lion’s David O’Keeffe, Tete Rouge’s Andy Bull and a side by side Nick Roads and Sandro Proietti.

O’Keefe fell back at the Senna Esses, as Bull moved up, but there was a huge scrap behind with the pack constantly reshuffling.

Tovey went ahead into Hatchetts on the second lap, with Bull trying to follow, before Crispin reclaimed the place through Dibeni.

The lead quartet had a slight gap to fifth placed Martin Riman, but it all closed up again when the safety car appeared for a couple of laps, as Richard Plyer’s three-wheel 2CV was recovered.

From the green flag Proietti led into Brooklands, before Crispin retook, but Julie Walford joined them to go three a breast through Honda, with Tovey, Roads and O’Keeffe three abreast for fourth too. Bull had dropped to eighth though behind Ainslie Bousfield.

Exiting Hatchetts it was anyone from six, but both Walford and O’Keeffe had shaken off Tovey.

Back at the front Proietti was alongside Crispin as they started the penultimate lap, but Crispin was back in front as Walford closed in too.

Nothing was settled andProietti was back in front once more, as Tovey lost ground after being forced onto the grass, but Crispin was ahead when it counted. Taking his first win of the season by 0.53 secs, with Walford a close third, after further exchanges with O’Keeffe.

Max Wyer finished strongly, taking five places on the last lap for fifth, closely followed by Bousfield and Bull. Riman, Roads and Chris Yates completed the top 10, with Championship leader Tovey falling to 12th on the last lap. “There was water in my fuel,” he explained.

“I had to work very hard for that. There was a bit of touching and rubbing, but a clean race, spent looking for who was going to dive bomb me next,” said the victorious Crispin.

“My best race for a while, but my plan failed, I led but he passed me again,” said second placed Proietti.

“Thrilled with that, my car was really good through Honda in particular,” added Julie Walford in third.

Crispin led into Hatchetts again at the start of race two favouring the outside line, to lead Bull, Tovey, Luca Proietti, Roads and Riman.

But Riman and Steve Walford were both off at Brooklands, with the cars appeared to be stuck together, their race was over.

The top three started to edge away, as Proietti hit the front through Dibeni, from Crispin and Tovey, as Bull started to lose ground again.

As Crispin went back ahead it was five for second place, with Bull diving down the inside into Hatchetts, emerging second after a great recovery, only to lose it back to Proietti through Dibeni.

Proietti then led with Crispin down to fourth, as Bull and Tovey went by, then for a brief moment the top three began to escape once more, as five cars were contesting fourth place.

Tovey was back in front again on lap six and started to build a slight lead, as O’Keeffe came through, after taking Proietti and Bull, while Crispin was down to sixth with a front mudguard rubbing.

Almost akin to a cycling peleton, lap eight arrived and Tovey though still ahead, leading an eight car train, from O’Keeffe, Crispin, Proietti, Bull, Roads, Matthew Hollis and Chris Yates.

Proietti then took O’Keeffe again through Dibeni, before Bull then unsuccessfully tried to split them, before O’Keeffe retook the place into the Senna Esses.

As O’Keeffe tried to push for the lead, Crispin managed to jump both Bull and Proietti, as the penultimate lap approached.

Into Hatchetts O’Keeffe had the inside and led out, but Tovey retook at Dibeni, with Proetti second as they went onto the last lap.

It was still anyone’s race, but in the final sort out Tovey just held on for his third win of the season, with 0.380 secs in hand.

But Crispin had snatched second place at the Crossing, as Bull, O’Keeffe, Roads and Hollis finished line astern, with Proeitti dropping to sixth, after taking Honda for the final time on the grass.

Yates, Wyer and Nicholas Home completed the top 10 finishers.

With the Sprint races completed on Saturday, there was a 100 minutes Enduro on Sunday. It came down to a duel between Crispin/Pete Sparrow in the Dilligaf car and Baycon Racing’s Sandro and Luca Proietti.

Dilligaf had led most of the first half, but they swapped and changed on almost every lap in the second half, with the Proeitti’s finally taking the spoils on the last lap by only 0.477 secs.

Tete Rouge’s Andy Bull had Alec Graham sharing as they came home third, with Wyer/Louis Tyson and Bousfield/Home fourth for 2CV Lion and Team Gadget respectively, and last of the runners to remain unlapped.

Tovey went solo in the KTR car to complete the top six, while Team Toyshed were unopposed in the Mini Grand Class, with Michael Dryden and Robert Selley, sharing with Chris and Andy Slade.

The next round of the Championship is at Oulton Park on July 8th.

TOVEY DOUBLE AT SEASON OPENER

Kris Tovey started his 2CV Racing season in the best possible way, a double win at Cadwell Park.

Nick Crispin lined up on pole for the first race in the DD Racing car, with Tovey’s KTR Developments car alongside, while defending Champion David O’Keeffe and Martin Riman shared the second row of the 21 car grid, for Team 2CV Lion and Classic 41.

Ainslie Bousfield’s Team Gadget was a casualty before the start though, “it went on to one cylinder on my way to the grid,” he explained.

As the lights went out Crispin headed Tovey through Coppice and they soon began to pull away, as Baycon Racing’s Sandro Proietti and O’Keeffe began their duel for third, after O’Keeffe had ousted Matthew Hollis.

O’Keeffe was into third on lap two and behind them Hollis was battling to defend from Andrew Bull, but couldn’t hold off the Tete Rouge car.

With the top six paired off, Chris Yates pulled back into the paddock, so Riman, Max Wyer, Simon Turner and Neal Graham completed the rest of the early top 10.

Riman was under pressure though too, from Wyer and Turner, while back at the front it was all change, with Tovey in front, from Crispin, Proeitti and O’Keeffe.

Hollis had managed to retake fifth from Bull on lap five, only to lose it again a lap later, as Riman continued to fight off Wyer for seventh.

Tovey was still out in front, but Proietti came out of Park on lap six in second and set about his challenge for the lead.
“I had worked with David at the start to close on the lead pair, never thought I would challenge for the lead though,” said Proietti.

He was soon back to fourth though after exiting Barn on the grass, which allowed both Crispin and O’Keeffe to go by.

As they charged down the Park Straight for the penultimate time, Crispin made his move to lead out of Chris Curve and once again there was a small gap back to third placed O’Keeffe again.

Crispin was just holding on, but the pressure on. “I just went wide onto kerb at the Mountain, but it gave Kris the momentum and he got me into Hall Bends,” Crispin explained.

Tovey had pulled out a 1.794 secs gap by the flag, with O’Keeffe just holding onto third from Proietti. “I was just trying to keep Sandro behind, he was all over me, one minute one side, the next minute the other,” he explained.

“I had been ready to accept second from the start, but relatively in control when I had the lead,” Tovey added as he celebrated his victory.

Bull managed to break Hollis’s tow to secure fifth place, “It was good fun and really chuffed with sixth as I was in my Dad’s car,” said Hollis.

Both Wyer and Turner managed to oust Riman on lap six, and Julie Walford rounded off the top 10, after a delayed start. “I was sliding all over the place with understeer,” Riman explained.

Neal Graham was next home, well clear of Chris Hall and Shirley Hennessy, while in 15th Christine Savage had Laurence Broadhurst close at the flag.

Richard Knight, Colin Etchells and Howard Wright completed the finishers.

All 21 cars made it to the grid for race two, but Seb Jones-White was soon back in the paddock after retiring from race one.

Crispin once again led Tovey into Coppice with Luca Proietti third, but it was Tovey ahead up the Hill into Charlies, as Crispin struggled with fuel starvation.

O’Keeffe and Bull were next up, but Hollis soon ousted Bull from fifth.

Crispin still had good pace and was able to stay with Tovey as they began to ease clear on the second lap, while behind O’Keeffe now headed a six-car train, from Proietti, Hollis, Bull, Wyer and Riman.

By the end of lap four Tovey had broken the tow again, but a couple of laps Crispin had managed to close it up, and took O’Keeffe and Proietti with him.

Into the final couple of laps and Crispin was under attack, with O’Keeffe through with a lap to go and Proietti on the final tour.

Tovey took the win again, but O’Keeffe was second and only 0.505 secs down, after a bit of a leaning session with Proietti.

“I got the lead up the hill at the start and just held it all the way,” Tovey concluded as he celebrated his winning double.
Crispin was still fourth, but Hollis had closed considerably on the last lap. “I could see them all messing about in front, so we worked together and closed the gap, and I nearly got Nick at the end,” said Hollis.

Bull completed the top six, “it was better than the first race, much closer and I tried to get Matthew at first, then just worked with him,” he explained.

Wyer took seventh from Riman on the final tour, but were still close at the flag, with Steve Walford poised to make a late challenge too.

Yates rounded off the top 10, with Nicholas Home next at the flag, closely followed by Neil Savage and Simon Turner.
Ethan Sparrow just kept George Broadhurst at bay for 14th and the remaining finishers were Giles Owen, Hennessy, Jennifer Hall, Martin Sunderland and Etchells.

The next rounds of the Championship are at Pembrey on May 20-21, with two 15 minute sprint races and a 90 minute enduro.

O’KEEFFE & CRISPIN VICTORIOUS IN DRAMATIC CROFT WEEKEND

Nick Crispin started from pole in the first of the weekends races and led the opening lap, with David O’Keeffe and Gary Adnitt exchanging for second, as Sandro Proietti tried to hang on too.

Into Clervaux for the second time and O’Keeffe was ahead, while down in fifth Neil Savage was losing ground as Andrew Bull, Lien Davies and Seb Jones-White all went by in their fight for fifth.

The lead trio continued to run unchanged line astern, but as Proietti continued to lose touch he became more and more ragged.

As Jones-White and Savage continued their duel, both lost out to Steve Walford for seventh, but they continued to swap and change throughout.

Back at the front Crispin was back ahead as they went into Tower for the sixth time, but a lap later both Adnitt and O’Keeffe got by on the exit and Crispin was back to third.

With Adnitt out in front, Crispin and O’Keeffe battled on and shared a number of exchanges, but Crispin was still in third as they started the last lap.

“It was a brilliant race, the aim was to get away and we did. I really didn’t know where David was on the last corner though,” said Adnitt.

The lead pair had exited the Hairpin for the final time virtually alongside, with just the drag to the flag. It was O’Keeffe that just gained the upperhand and secured the win by just 0.049 secs.

“We were just left to fight our own race,” said O’Keeffe. “I did the work and he took the glory,” Adnitt replied.

Although disappointed to be third out of the three battlers at the front, Crispin was first to show his respect for his rivals. “Brilliant race, no contact and full respect,” he said.

Despite losing ground, Proietti had held onto fourth until the final lap, “I had stayed with the leaders early on, but didn’t quite have the tow, as I was losing out on the straights. Then I lost the back end going through Sunny and I was off,” he explained.

But fourth still went down to the wire between Davies and Bull. “I had no brakes for the last two laps, but had to have that last dive,” said Bull after a final attack on Davies at the Hairpin on the last lap.

“He had a go at the last corner, but I had no brakes either and there was some contact. I had got him through the Clark Esses a few laps earlier,” Davies replied after retaining fourth, despite having a cone under the front of his car.

Walford was seventh and eventually Savage held onto eighth from Jones-White, with Katy Storey getting the better of Father Mick to complete the top 10, as Chris Yates lost out.

Adnitt was on pole for race two from O’Keeffe, Crispin and Luca Proietti and these three made an immediate and decisive break.

Initially O’Keeffe had lost out in fourth, but as Adnitt, Crispin and Proietti continued in formation, he was soon able to make it a four-car train.

Davies again led the chasing pack, with Julie Walford taking Matthew Hollis for sixth on lap two.

After a fairly stable couple of laps Crispin was alongside Adnitt into Tower on lap five. O’Keeffe then took Proietti and Crispin into Sunny, as Adnitt managed to retain his advantage.

Davies was under pressure too as his hold on fourth was now a four-car fight, as Walford, Owen and Mick Storey latched on, with Hollis down to eighth.

Crispin was forced to surrender however and the four-way battle into Sunny came out as Adnitt, Crispin and Proietti, with O’Keeffe back to fourth.

It changed again a lap from home and Crispin was back in front through Sunny, with Proietti following. But the drama continued onto the final lap. “I was consistent and good through the corners, gaining and got some good points,” said Crispin, after securing victory over Proietti by 0.316 seconds.

“I had been hanging back for the last lap to challenge Nick and Luca and then then David flew down the inside and hit me so hard, it pushed me across a gully into the field at Tower. I eventually got away again, but had lost first gear and I think the steering rack was damaged too,” said Adnitt.

Proietti was delighted with his second place. “I worked hard with Nick throughout the whole race and it was brilliant when we both took the Lion cars around the outside at Sunny,” he said.

Despite the final lap collision with Adnitt at Tower, O’Keeffe still managed to recover to take third. “No brakes, I just aimed it down the inside. I missed Gary yesterday, but certainly didn’t miss him today,” said O’Keeffe.

Julie Walford had been chasing Davies for fifth over the closing laps and finally made it by on the final lap. “She’s a good driver and beat me fair and square said Davies. “I got him on the back straight, it was the last lap so I thought I would just go for it,” Julie replied, as Adnitt’s demise promoted her to fourth.

Bull and Storey followed Davies to the flag in fairly close formation. “Better and cleaner than yesterday,” Bull admitted. Hollis, Yates and Martin Riman rounded off the top 10.

Croft was the final Sprint Races of the 2022 season and now it’s all eyes on Snetterton for the August Bank Holiday 24hrs race and title decider.

Full timing / results: https://www.tsl-timing.com/file/?f=BARC/2022/2231272cv.pdf