Category: 2017

Patience, strategies, experience and little bit of luck once again proved the winning formula as Team Lion’s Peter Sparrow, David O’Keeffe and Alec Graham won the 28th 2CV 24hr race at Snetterton.

In the early laps the leading UK teams were caught up with the Mini’s, as Sandro Proietti tried to gain an advantage for Baycon Racing, but had Chris Bassett (Team Rebellion) and Pete Sparrow (Team Lion 1) following him through.

Bassett upped his pace still further and was a clear leader after 30 minutes, with Proietti, Simon Clarke (Team Gadget), Chris Yates (Blueberry Muffins) and Sparrow running line astern behind.
“We didn’t want him to be leading at this stage, it will use our fuel up quicker,” said the Rebellion crew.
But one hour down and Bassett was a still out front but only 2/10ths up on Sparrow, while Clarke and Proietti were still in their shadow, with Yates and Freddie Martin-Dye (Team ECAS) the early top six.

15 minutes later it was the first safety car, both Sparrow and Proietti took the opportunity for a quick fuel stop. “I was surprised we were staying with the Mini’s, but can only just stay with Rebellion’s pace, I think we will get better times in the tow and save fuel too of course,” said Sparrow.

Having started late the Steve Walford Racing entry had Mick Storey in for the first stint, but despite starting from the pitlane he was already up to seventh. “We had a loose wheel and only found it late on, so didn’t make the grid,” he said.

The GR Racing car of Mick Moore also had to make an scheduled stop from 18th place, “the exhaust came off and it was hanging as we pitted, so we had to use bigger springs,” said team leader Marc Grasby.

Keith Issatt also headed pitwards for the Vision/JPC/SRR/CSA Team from 16th. “The time goes quickly, but we seem to have got a misfire,” he said as Martin Wykes took over.

Bassett made his stop after 1 ¾ hrs, “I know they didn’t really want me to lead,” admitted the Rebellion driver.

It was a new leader though as the two hour distance was completed, with Chris Yates out in front for Blueberry Muffins, having a lap on Gadget Racing, Baycon and Rebellion, with Walford’s up to fifth and Glenn Burtenshaw sixth for Hollis Motorsport.

There were more driver changes into the third hour. But Blueberry Muffins still had a lap lead, with Christer Hallgren having taken over from Yates.

Baycon were back up to second with Philip Myatt having swapped with Proietti senior. “I did 2 ¼ hrs and that was such hard work,” Proietti admitted.

Walford’s climb continued as they rose to third, “it just went our way and we had a nice run through,” said second stinter Nick Clarke.

ECAS were fourth with Dan Willan taking the second stint. Jelly Snake Racing had swapped Ash Carter for Malcolm Best in fifth, with Tete Rouge rounding off the top six.

Going down the order however were Rebellion, into ninth while Team Gadget had dropped to 19th. “It had all been very good and working to plan, we refuelled at the first safety car and I stayed in as I intended doing three hours, then it just stopped on the Bentley Straight. It was probably electrical but we changed the engine,” said Clarke after handing the car to team boss Wayne Cowling.

Hollis Motorsport also lost extra times in the pits, “it was going well and then sounded awful, the manifold had split,” said Burtenshaw as he handed to Nigel Hollis.

Team Lion hadn’t escaped either, with the number 2 car having early problems, before the throttle car broke with their number 1 as O’Keeffe took over.

Into the darkness but still dry Blueberry Muffins continued to hold the advantage through the fourth and fifth hour, but Team ECAS had worked their way up to second.

The Walford crew were in trouble though and Julie had to pit with a broken exhaust, which after a temporary repair was welded.

Jelly Snake became the new third placed team, with Rebellion back up to fourth, from Tete Rouge, with Lion 1 back up to sixth too.

Blueberry Muffins hopes of glory came to an end however when their car was wiped out in a collision in the sixth hour, which gave the lead back to Rebellion once more. “James Dartiailh was having a problem with the throttle cable, stuck open and then stuck closed. We sent him out for another lap while we sourced a replacement. But it broke on the Bentley Straight and he pulled off, but was hit by Glen Oswin’s Tete Rouge car. The impact was about 60mph but both drivers were OK apart from being shaken, as the cars stood up remarkably well,” explained Blueberry Muffins team leader Chris Yates.

Into the eighth hour and Lion 1 took charge, having won for the last couple of years too, once again Sparrow, O’Keeffe and Graham had a plan that proved to be dominant once again.

With Paul Crosby and Philip Martin-Dye following Willan’s for ECAS they too became established at the head of the field.

5am and the halfway point arrived with Lion 1 six laps up on ECAS, Rebellion were a further three laps back in third and the Baycon trio of Myatt and the Proietti’s had once again clawed back to fourth and was on the same lap as MIM Racing’s Nick Crispin, Dave Watson and John Cutmore.

Jelly Snake had fallen back to eighth, which promoted the Scottish Rambo team and Pork Pie Racing, while Hollis Motorsport and GR Racing completed the top ten.

As dawn broke and the hours were gradually ticked off the Team Lion 1 trio of Sparrow/O’Keeffe and Graham reigned supreme, for Sparrow it was win number 10, with victory by seven laps over the ECAS quartet of Freddie and Philip Martin-Dye, Paul Crosby and Dan Willan. “Alec had a few problems with the brakes overheating, but we only used 2 litres of oil and the engine was perfect,” said Sparrow.

Graham also managed to collect one of the Liqui Moly cardboard promo girls on his last lap, taking the flag with her in the passenger seat.

Team Rebellion held third from the 10th hour, with Bassett, Tom Burgess and Phil Jose joined for the night stints by ex Legends Champion Oli Poyser, who had commuted to and from Cadwell Park and his duties at a British Superbike race engineer.

The Rambo Team of Derek Coghill, Ian Gibbon and John Paul Wilkinson stemmed the Jelly Snake recovery, taking third place away with three hours remaining.

The Ash Carter, Malcom Best, Alan Wiltshire car, finally taking sixth, after Gadget’s Clarke, Cowling, Ainslie Bousefield and Lien Davies pipped them two hours from home. It also crowned Davies as the overall Champion too for the second successive year.

The Pork Pie racing quartet of Chris and Don Hall with Colin Wilson and Jon Harmer held seventh over the last four hours, with Hollis Motorsport’s Matthew, Richard and Nigel Hollis joined by Burtenshaw eighth and Walford’s were ninth following two engine changes, which included putting the rebuilt original back in.

The Blueberry Tarts team also made it home 13th with Maria Cooke, Shirley Hennessy, Jess Owen and Katy Storey, having fuelled and done a driver change at every stop and only having replaced the gear linkage.

Vision/JPC/SRR/CSA completed the top 10 with Kev Fulbrook, Keith Issatt, Martin Wykes, Rob Rees and James Poulton, as the Baycon trio lost out on a probable eighth with a late engine change.

Away from the UK Championship the BNLL trio of Thierry de Bonhomme, Laurent Joussiaux and Rudy Coppetiers took the overall win in their Dyane Hybrid and the Mini class went to Ade and Simon Tuckley with Alan Eason and Ashley Shelswell.

Mick Storey‘s 22 year wait for a win in the 2CVParts.com Championship came to an end with a dominant victory at Brands Hatch.

He had qualified his Rose Rosie 2 car on pole for the first of the weekend’s races, with 0.400s in hand over Nick Crispin.

But the next five qualifiers could hardly be separated, with Nick Clarke, heading Julie Walford, Alec Graham, Matthew Hollis and Sandro Proietti.

Ash Carter was next up, with Chris Yates ninth, despite losing his rear wing. The top 10 was completed by Rebellion WEC mechanic Tom Burgess, usually found tending Nicolas Prost and Bruno Senna’s car, but at Brands Hatch for his seasonal debut.

RACE ONE
Storey made an excellent start but there was chaos behind, before Hollis took up the chase. “I went from sixth to second through Paddock, great start,” start Hollis.

He had Proietti chasing too but contact with Clarke and Alec Graham soon had him sidelined. “Alec was on my inside and Sandro on my left, there was contact and I ran over my own wing and didn’t realise,” said Clarke.

“I got hit at the back by Nick and it turned me round as Alec caught me. I tried to continue but went straight on at Druids as there was no air in one of my front tyres,” Proietti added.

With Storey’s lead growing the second place battle intensified. Graham briefly escaped in second, before being hauled back as Hollis slipped down the order. “I messed up through Cascades, but still managed to stay in the group,” said Hollis.

Crispin took charge of the chasing group on lap five, but Chris Yates, Graham, Clarke and Hollis were all covered by inches.

With Proietti’s car still parked at Druids, Clarke pulled off too and brought out the safety car. “I had a good start, it was brilliant and thought I was home and dry until my team mate brought the safety car out. Then I spent the rest of the race watching my mirrors. Fantastic, 22 years of trying and I finally get my first sprint race win,” said Storey.

From the green flag Crispin and Hollis worked together and were poised to challenge Storey’s lead when the flag came out. Crispin had dived into second at Druids ahead of Yates on lap 10, but it was still a five car scrap.

Graham ousted Yates from third, but Hollis’ fightback had brought him back into contention for a podium finish. “I got a great run and took two cars on the straight. I was back to second and then braked too late at Paddock, ran wide and gave Nick the run up to Druids where he got me back, on the last lap,” Hollis explained.

“We were four wide up to Surtees on one lap, but couldn’t get anywhere near Mick until the end as there were challengers on both sides of you. I lost out a bit after the safety car, but got it back at Druids on the last lap,” said Crispin.

Graham’s charge for the podium ended over the last three laps after contact, taking the flag fifth after losing out to the recovering Yates with a lap to go.

Defending Champion Lien Davies had started at the back after plug problems in qualifying, but had climbed to sixth, before contact with Graham. “It was going well but after the safety car I seemed to have a blocked injector, so just poodled around to the end,” he explained after taking the flag ninth.

Burgess completed the top six, with Julie Walford seventh with inches to spare over Ash Carter. “I started the race in fourth gear, not good but at least it was better than neutral,” said Julie.

Marc Grasby finally secured his first top 10 finish, “I had a worse start than Julie but better than James Dartiailh,” he said. Despite running as high as eighth, he was both delighted and relieved with 10th. “It may be just 10th but it was like a win for me,” he added.

After just losing outing in his duel with Grasby, Dartiailh was still full of praise. “That was a great scrap with Marc and I was almost alongside him at the flag,” he said after losing out by 0.107 secs.

Simon Crook was 12th, with Nigel Hollis 13th after being caught up in a first lap incident with team mate Jon Widdowson and Chris Hall, when the latter spun and was t-boned.

Christine Savage was 14th on her seasonal debut, with Hall next home and Widdowson completing the finishers, despite having broken the chassis in his first lap incident with Hall.

Luca Proietti was on pole for most of the wet session for race two, but was pipped in the closing minutes by both Ainslie Bousefield and Burgess. Less than 0.5 secs covered the top five, with Steve Walford fourth and Graham fifth.

There was little to split the next group too, with Carter just edging Matthew Hollis. Mick Storey had taken over from Clarke and was eighth best, with Dartiailh and Crispin completing the top 10.

RACE TWO
Having just missed out on pole, Proietti Jnr started his race in determined fashion and headed the charge through Paddock Hill Bend, after initially entering side by side with Bousefield.

As the lead began to grow Graham was through into second at Clearways on lap two and quickly reeled in Proietti, as Crispin then ousted Bousefield from third, to head the pursuing group. “I made a fabulous start but didn’t know Alec was getting that close.” Proietti admitted.

But exiting Graham Hill Bend for the fourth time Graham was on the grass, just holding on without a spin, but rejoining down in eighth. “After the damage in the first race we used an old wheel on that rear corner and it just didn’t like that corner, so maybe it was a mistake,” said Graham.

Crispin was the new second man but couldn’t break the tow. “I just had to draft and not fight,” he said, as Hollis, Bousefield and Storey were in there too.

The pressure then began to build on the leader. With Hollis taking charge and Crispin following, through Surtees while Proietti fought back from third.

While Bousefield and Storey were just holding on in fourth and fifth, Carter held onto sixth, while the recovering Graham ousted Walford. But Walford continued to have his hands full with Grasby and Burgess for eighth and Dartiailh ran wheel to wheel with Katy Storey for 12th, which allowed Crook to get away.

Proietti managed to wrest the lead back on lap 12th, but Crispin and Hollis wouldn’t surrender. They began to work together and edged away to continue their three way battle, but with four laps to go it was back to a five car train.

Crispin was looking for his first win of the year and Proietti for his first ever. “I had it all planned, Luca got by into Druids with a lap to go and I planned to sit behind and challenge on the last lap, but then Matthew got between us,” he explained.

“I was happier with Nick behind me as we seemed to work together. So when Matthew got through I had to be defensive over that last lap. Tremendous though,” said Proietti after heading Hollis to the flag by 0.226s.

Crispin retained a comfortable if disappointing third, while Bousefield fell away in the closing laps, taking sixth from the closing Carter, having lost out earlier to the Storey and the recovering Graham whose duel went right to the flag. “That was close enough, but I had been relying on others mistakes,” said Storey.

Walford kept Grasby at bay to take eighth, with Crook completing the top10 after Burgess lost power in the closing stages.
Katy Storey came out on top of her duel with Dartiailh for 12th, while Nigel Hollis, Hall, Savage and Argentinian guest Nestor Marcote completed the finishers.

It was back to a double header sprint format at Cadwell Park for the latest round of the 2CVparts.com Championship. While Lien Davies added another win to his tally, it was a first for Brian Heerey since joining the Championship at Oulton Park.

Sandro Proietti took pole position quite comfortably over Davies, while Matthew Hollis and Nick Clarke shared the second row on a 19 car grid.

As the first of the weekends races got underway it continued to be any one from eight for the first four laps, with Matthew Hollis, Davies and Nick Clarke all sharing the lead, while Ash Carter led the second group as his quarry continued to escape.

Davies led from lap four and made a brief escape with Proietti, leaving Clarke, Mick Storey, Martin Riman, Hollis, Jim Henshaw and Heerey to fight over third.

The chasers soon caught Proietti again and Clarke was back second by the end of lap six.

Davies’ break started to increase as the fight behind continued to intensify, but Hollis’ hopes of another win were dashed. “I hit the bollards at the Gooseneck and it bent the front wing in,” he explained. His solution was to stop and latch the offending wing against the Armco by the paddock exit gate, pull the offending wing off and continue with one open front wheel.

Storey was the next of the chasers to make a move, taking second on lap seven, as Proietti slipped to fifth behind Clarke and Riman.

Davies found his lead starting to reduce as the top four paired off though and at the flag Storey was only 0.258s adrift of the defending champion, “it didn’t shoot off the line at the start as I had hoped, so it was really hard work. It was door handles with Sandro on one lap through Hall Bends,” he said.

Proietti had trailed Clarke for third as they started the last lap, but it was close. “I had never led before this race and I didn’t know it was the last lap either and Sandro got me at Hall Bends,” Clarke explained.

“My fan had broken in the assembly area and I had to take to grass once at Charlies to avoid hitting Martin Riman. I think I overtook everyone somewhere in that race,” Proietti replied after completing the podium.

Clarke retained fourth and Henshaw managed to escape from his batch to secure fifth, while Julie Walford snatched sixth on the last lap.

Heerey settled in seventh, “I decided to sit at the back of the group and behave,” he reckoned. Riman had been as high as fourth but took the flag eighth. “It was fantastic but I lost my brakes around halfway,” he said.

Nick Crispin hadn’t quite managed to stick with the initial break, but had enough in hand to keep Ash Carter at a safe distance for ninth, “it was all over the place and trying to kill me at the Gooseneck,” Carter added.

Mathew Hollis finally made it to the flag 11th, with Steve Walford escaping in 12th as James Dartiailh and Chris Yates took their 13th place duel to the line.

Chris Hall was next home, with John Widdowson, Nigel Hollis, Ron Mears and Richard Hollis all making it home too.

Storey had pole for race two in the car Clarke had taken to fourth, whilst alongside Ainslie Bousefield had taken over from Davies. Heerey and Henshaw shared the second row, with Luca Proietti and Steve Walford taking over from Julie, to complete the third.

Storey and Heerey were side by side from the start as they arrived at Charlies, with Bousefield in third. But as they charged down the Park Straight Storey was well down. “I had been punted off,” he explained.

The lead duo started to make a break as the rest of the field continued to change and change about. Henshaw was in third, from Walford, Proietti and Matthew Hollis. But Hollis made two places on lap three and began to threaten Henshaw for the final podium place.

Bousefield was continuing to shadow every move Heerey made without actually attacking for the lead. But it all went wrong for Henshaw. “I think I was celebrating too early, lost my straightline speed and they all came passed,” he explained.

Hollis, Walford and recovering Storey came by first, with Crispin and Proietti following a lap later, when third had suddenly become eighth.

Without warning the chequered flag suddenly appeared after 15 mins of racing and Heerey became a surprised maiden victor. “I felt under a lot of pressure and was permanently looking in my mirrors,” he explained.

“I was planning my race and the next thing I knew it was the chequered flag. There was no warning that the race was shortened and no last lap flag,” said an angry second placed Bousefield.

Storey’s magnificent fightback netted him third with a lap to go.” I didn’t like being punted off but enjoyed coming back through the field,” he admitted.

Hollis had been in third, but lost out to both Storey and Walford with a lap to go. “That was tough, I worked with Steve and actually got alongside Ainslie but there was no way through and then Luca got me at the Hairpin too on the last lap, “he said after coming home sixth.

Crispin was right behind Hollis as they took the flag, leaving Henshaw, Carter and Dartiailh to complete the top ten.

There was little to split Aubrey Brocklebank and Yates for 11th, while behind them Hall had plenty in hand over Nigel Hollis and Widdowson.

Katy Storey was 16th having been up in eighth earlier, while Mears and Marc Grasby completed the finishers.

The next round of the Championship is at Brands Hatch July 29/30th.

Full result PDF: http://www.tsl-timing.com/file/?f=BARC/2017/1719212cv.pdf

2CVPARTS.com Classic Championship – Croft, April 29/30th 2017

There were three different winners over the Croft weekend, with 2CV Racing legend Pete Sparrow taking the first, before Ash Carter celebrated his maiden success. The pair then joined up for the Enduro, but proved to be second best to Lien Davies and Ainslie Bousefield.

Sparrow was on pole for race one by a healthy 1.406s from defending Champion Davies, but there was little to separate Matthew Hollis and Jim Henshaw on the second row.

Sandro Proietti and Nick Crispin completed the top six qualifiers, with 18 cars ready for the early afternoon sprint.

As the lights went out Sparrow led into Clervaux, with Proietti edging out Davies for second. But the Champion quickly fought back, “Pete had a great start, but Sandro just had me for second. I soon got him back though and we stuck together and got away, “Davies explained.

With Proietti back in third from lap two, the chasing pack began to close, with Matthew Hollis, heading Crispin and Alec Graham.

“I was in the battle as we went into Tower but got forced out by Proietti and Crispin and had to take it too tightly, hitting the kerb. It bounced me back into Crispin and put the rear wing onto the tyre, then I spun at Tower a lap later and Mick Storey spun too to avoid me,” Hollis explained.

Proietti was still in third, but had Crispin in his wheeltracks, Graham closing and Jim Henshaw into the top six too.

It continued to be tight at the front as Sparrow and Davies shared a few exchanges. “I kept him on his toes, kept it clean and then thought second is better than nowhere,” said Davies after taking the flag 0.411s away from Sparrow and victory.

Proietti had continued to have the edge over Crispin for third until lap six, when they delayed each other, which handed the place to Graham, after initially splitting the duel a lap earlier. “I had a good start and made two places before Clervaux. I could see Sparrow and Davies getting away, but I was in the scrap for third down and had wanted to hang onto them. I had a few engine woes and definitely down on power on the straights,” said Graham.

Henshaw had also made it ahead of the Proietti and Crispin duel with a lap to go, “that was hard fought and I had some contact after not starting well, having taken fourth gear instead of second. I was on for fourth though until Sandro got me back on the last lap,” said Henshaw.

Crispin eventually came in sixth, with Carter seventh. “I had a good start but was well down when I had my run into the first corner cut off. So I just picked off what I could,” added Carter.

Julie Walford, Brian Heerey and Mick Storey completed the top ten.

Only 0.6 secs covered the top five after qualifying for race two, with Carter on pole from Ainslie Bousfield, Mick Storey, Luca Proietti and Henshaw, while Matthew Hollis completed the top six.

Bousfield grabbed the lead as the race got underway, heading a three car break from Carter and Proietti.

There was barely a coat of paint between the lead trio and Proietti made it into second on lap three. “Our battle allowed Crispin to close on us too though,” Carter explained.

Crispin had gained from Hollis’ misfortune, “the engine had been pinking, then the note changed and I pulled off, before limping through the rest of the race,” he said.

But on lap eight there was a sort out at the head of the field. “I got a run from third into Tower and passed Luca with two wheels on the grass, leading on the exit as Ainslie and Luca delayed each other,” Carter explained.

Crispin had also gained in the sort out and he piled the pressure on Carter for the remaining two laps. But it was a first win for Carter, from Crispin, Proietti and Bousefield, all covered by only 0.787s.

Storey had started the last lap in fourth, but lost out to Proietti, while Steve Walford, Sparrow, Glenn Oswin, Henshaw and Paul Rowland completed the top ten. “I had lost fourth gear part way through the race, so struggled to keep up,” said Henshaw.

Davies and Bousfield had pole for the two hour enduro, but there was some confusion at the start. As the grid exited the Hairpin and approached the line, Bousfield rightly took control of the pace as poleman while fellow front row man Chris Hall hung back.

Bousfield was then given a 10 second penalty for being out of position!

Different strategies from different pairings made the race even more confusing at times. Bousfield had led the opening lap, but made the compulsory three stops on the next consecutive laps. “We had worked out barring safety cars, that was the most effective way to change, so I got in from lap three for the rest of the race,” Davies explained.

So Sparrow led for the majority of the race, making his stops midrace to hand to Carter, while his co-driver then got into Hall’s car for the remainder of the race.

“We had to check an oil leak before I got in and then I climbed back to second and was following Matthew Hollis,” said Carter. “I had started last as I didn’t qualify as I had changed engines. I stayed out as long as possible hoping for a safety car, so then had to make three late stops,” said Hollis.

When Hollis made his second stop Davies took over the lead. “They kept putting P2 out to me as we had to consider the 10 second penalty. So I didn’t know we were leading or that we had won until I was first into parc ferme,” Davies explained.

Carter was second for the last four laps after Henshaw made his last stop, but he still held onto third, “I had changed the gearbox, but had no idea what was going on really. But I joined Graham and Nick Clarke in a great battle, although I mainly sat behind them and watched,” said Henshaw, celebrating his first solo podium finish.

Crispin just held onto fourth from Hollis, with Clarke/Storey sixth. Roy Eastwood, Paul Rowland/Graham, Oswin/Heerey and Chris Yates completed the top ten.

The next round of the Championship is in 2 weeks at Cadwell Park, May 13/14th

It’s a mixture of sprint racing and endurance for the 2CV Championship at Croft this weekend. After two 15 minute qualifying session on Saturday morning, the first of the two 20 minute sprints takes place at 1.40pm, with the second at 1.45pm, followed by another qualifying session for Enduro at 5.40pm.

Defending Champion Lien Davies will be out to repeat his success at Oulton Park in the first race, but with a win under his belt at Oulton too, Matthew Hollis will be looking for more.

There are 18 cars taking part in the sprints, with that definite family feel about the weekend as usual with 2CV’s. Sandro and Luca Proietti proved their pace and were first on the road at Oulton, before a jump start penalty took the win away.

The father and daughter team of Mick and Katy Storey are in action again, along with husband and wife Steve and Julie Walford and father and sons Nigel, Richard and Matthew Hollis.

Having watched from sidelines at Oulton, 2CV legend Pete Sparrow will be out in race one and the Enduro, while fellow stalwart David O’Keeffe will be joining in for the Enduro too, which runs on Sunday for two hours from 3.45pm. Also returning is former champion Alec Graham, adding to an already competitive field.

It may not be the fastest race of the day, but it’s likely to be closest.

Reigning Champion Lien Davies was declared the winner of the first of the two opening round races, after leader on the road Sandro Proietti was given a jump start penalty. But in race two it was lights to flag for Matthew Hollis.

Qualifying for both races took part in the dry with Davies claiming pole by 0.030secs from debutant Brian Heerey. “Braking for Shell was very greasy, but the exit of Knickerbrook was even worse,” said Davies.

With Nick Crispin and Sandro Proietti close too, the top four qualifiers were covered by only 0.259secs. Chris Yates and Matthew Hollis completed the top six, “I came in early to help fix my Dad’s car, as we are drivers and mechanics,” Hollis explained.

Simon Crook was back in his old car, “I sold it to Ash Carter in September and bought it back in November as my car isn’t ready. But I had no brakes,” he explained after qualifying seventh.

“I hadn’t driven my car since last year’s 24 hour race, it felt good though,” said eighth best Martin Riman. James Dartiailh and Julie Walford rounded off the top ten.

In the second session Matthew Hollis was clear on pole by more than two seconds, but there was little separate Ainslie Bousefield and Luca Proietti in second and third.

Jim Henshaw improved massively from the first session for fourth with Mick Storey and Crispin completing the third row.

Heerey was seventh, with Yates, Steve Walford and Richard Hollis completing the rest of the top ten.

Although the rain had held off, it arrived just before lunch and was still raining as the grid lined up for race one. One notable absentee was Matthew Hollis, whose car refused to start in assembly area.

As the lights went out and 18 car field headed into Old Hall, Davies led from pole with Proietti tucking in second. But Heerey was in trouble, “it just switched off and I had to start it again,” he explained.

By the end of the opening lap the lead quintet had made a slight break, with Davies and Proietti heading Crispin, Julie Walford and Mick Storey.

Proietti had the lead a lap later, but both he, Storey and Ronald Mears had been handed 10 second jump start penalties. “I didn’t know about the penalties, so kept chasing and then went onto one cylinder briefly, overwhelmed with spray,” said. Davies.

Crispin took advantage and was second on lap four, before Davies’ car recovered, claimed the place and set off for the lead again.

“There was no way I jumped that start, “Proietti insisted, but it was enough to drop him to fifth in the final result and hand victory to Davies.

Crispin was third on the road before being promoted, “it was really difficult following and I judged my braking from where Lien braked. Then I got passed him and fell back more,” he explained.

Walford had looked settled in fourth until Yates closed in on the final laps. “It wasn’t my best start and I missed second gear,” he said.

Nick Clarke dropped back after contact with Heerey, who then retired with gearbox maladies. “I was on the grass at Island when the gearbox just went, “said Heerey. Yates was then suddenly up two places and made the last lap count as he snatched fourth, which after penalties became third.  “I got Julie on the inside of Shell, as I knew which line she would take,” he said.

“I could see Chris closing in and knew he would get me, still my best result though,” Walford replied.

Martin Riman completed the top six, “I got bogged down at the start so had to fight back,” he added. Ash Carter clinched sixth on the last lap, with Dartiailh, the recovering Clarke and Henshaw completing the top ten.

All three Hollis’ made it to the grid for race two and it was poleman Matthew that made the most of the start. Bousefield was initially second, until Storey managed to split them, leaving Bousefield under attack from a train of cars, led by Steve Walford. Luca Proietti and Crispin.

Storey was really on the attack for the lead, “I was going for glory into Cascades and then ran out of talent,” he explained after rejoining 11th.

With Bousefield back into second, the lead duo started to escape as the fight for third reshuffled and intensified between, Proietti, Crispin, Yates, Walford and Heerey.

It was just as close for tenth too, as Carter, Storey and Crook chased down Richard Hollis.

Bousefield briefly threatened to close on the lead, but it was Matthew Hollis’ victory. “I was trying to watch was going on behind and had a few slides as Ainslie closed,” he said.

“Mick Storey got me at Lodge and then went off, but I lost some ground looking where he might get back on,” Bousefield replied.

Proietti fell to the back of the third placed train for a while, which left Crispin and Walford side by side past the pits on lap four, before Walford went through at Old Hall to steal the final podium place.

Proietti fought back to regain fourth from Crispin with a lap to go, while Richard Hollis completed the top six after ousting Yates. “I got mugged on the Avenue,” Yates explained.

Heerey was still on the back of the group in eighth, “I got dropped for a while but managed to catch up again,” he said.

Mick Storey’s recovery netted him ninth, with Crook completing the top ten after demoting Carter on the last lap. “After not getting to the flag in race one, finishing was the aim and got the place when Ash went off at Cascades. I had a really good view of it,” Cook confirmed.

The next round of the Championship is at Croft on April 29/30.

Published by Peter Scherer for the 2CV Racing Club, March 18th, 2017.

Timetable: Click here
Final instructions: Click here

Welcome to the opening rounds of the 2017 2CVParts.com 2CV Championship. This is the 29^th year of racing these iconic and much loved little French cars. The first ever race in the UK was at Mallory Park in 1989 and some of the cars and drivers who competed then still compete today! The championship is probably best known for its 24 hour race, held in August at Snetterton circuit, but before that happens there is also a 9-round series of 20-minute ‘sprint’ races that take place all over the country.

2016 champion Lien Davies, a plumber from West Yorkshire, is defending his crown in 2017, sharing the Team Gadget car #24, with long time 2CV campaigner Ainlise Bousfield from Cambridge.

The 2CV Team LION car #97 is piloted this year by Jim Henshaw, a classic car specialist from Hereford. This car was built new last year and won the 24 hour straight out of the box. Jim came 4th in the Championship in his first ever season of racing.

Local man Chris Yates from Winsford is in the “Blueberry Muffins” car, #40. He’s been running his own car for two years and is gradually pushing towards the front of the pack. Last year’s 10^th place man in the championship, electrician Ash Carter from Huddersfield has rebuilt his #23 car over the winter and it is resplendent in its new Liqui Moly livery.

2CV racing is a family sport – race car preparation expert Steve Walford from Birmingham is sharing #55 with his wife Julie. Father and son team Sandro and Luca Proietti from Cambridgeshire are sharing #30 and Hollis Motorsport, based near Northampton and run by father Nigel and sons Matt and Richard have been racing 2CVs for many years. Nigel is over 70 years old and still enjoying 2CV racing! They are in cars #70, #71 and #72

Chris Hall from Lincolnshire shared a car last year but has now bought himself his own car, #96, and is taking this season very seriously. Welshman ‘Lucky’ Ron Mears is a tugboat captain from Cardiff. He’s a classic car nut who has been building his #67 car for nearly two years – and today is his first ever race!

Other top competitors with rebuilt cars looking for the win will be Nick Crispin from Harrogate in #89, who took his first win last year, and sharing car #7 will be Nick Clarke from Birmingham and Mick Storey from Oxfordshire who finished 7^th and 8^th in last year’s championship and will be pushing hard.

Entry list:

Race: Oulton Park race 1.
Date: 2017-03-18 (2017 season)

Car #	Driver Name	Team name
7	Nick Clarke	Rosie Racing
21	Marc Grasby	G R Racing
22	Mick Storey	Rosie Racing 2
23	Ash Carter	Jelly Snake Racing
24	Lien Davies	Gadget Racing
30	Sandro Proietti	Baycon Racing
40	Chris Yates	Blueberry Muffins
55	Steve Walford	Steve Walford Motorsport
67	Ronald Charles Mears	Lucky Ron Racing
69	James Dartiailh	Starfish Racing
70	Nigel Hollis	Hollis Motorsport 3
71	John Widdowson	Hollis Motorsport 2
72	Matthew Hollis	Hollis Motorsport
89	Nick Crispin	MiM Racing
96	Chris Hall	The Pork Pies
97	Jim Henshaw	Team Lion

Race: Oulton Park race 2.
Date: 2017-03-18 (2017 season)

Car #	Driver Name	Team name
7	Mick Storey	Rosie Racing
21	Marc Grasby	G R Racing
22	Katy Storey	Rosie Racing 2
23	Ash Carter	Jelly Snake Racing
24	Ainslie Bousfield	Gadget Racing
30	Luca Proietti	Baycon Racing
40	Chris Yates	Blueberry Muffins
55	Julie Walford	Steve Walford Motorsport
67	Ronald Charles Mears	Lucky Ron Racing
69	James Dartiailh	Starfish Racing
70	Nigel Hollis	Hollis Motorsport 3
71	John Widdowson	Hollis Motorsport 2
72	Matthew Hollis	Hollis Motorsport
89	Nick Crispin	MiM Racing
96	Chris Hall	The Pork Pies
97	Jim Henshaw	Team Lion

Race report:

Reigning Champion Lien Davies was declared the winner of the first of the two opening round races, after leader on the road Sandro Proietti was given a jump start penalty. But in race two it was lights to flag for Matthew Hollis.

Qualifying for both races took part in the dry with Davies claiming pole by 0.030secs from debutant Brian Heerey. “Braking for Shell was very greasy, but the exit of Knickerbrook was even worse,” said Davies.

With Nick Crispin and Sandro Proietti close too, the top four qualifiers were covered by only 0.259secs. Chris Yates and Matthew Hollis completed the top six, “I came in early to help fix my Dad’s car, as we are drivers and mechanics,” Hollis explained.

Simon Crook was back in his old car, “I sold it to Ash Carter in September and bought it back in November as my car isn’t ready. But I had no brakes,” he explained after qualifying seventh.

“I hadn’t driven my car since last year’s 24 hour race, it felt good though,” said eighth best Martin Riman. James Dartiailh and Julie Walford rounded off the top ten.

In the second session Matthew Hollis was clear on pole by more than two seconds, but there was little separate Ainslie Bousefield and Luca Proietti in second and third.

Jim Henshaw improved massively from the first session for fourth with Mick Storey and Crispin completing the third row.

Heerey was seventh, with Yates, Steve Walford and Richard Hollis completing the rest of the top ten.

Although the rain had held off, it arrived just before lunch and was still raining as the grid lined up for race one. One notable absentee was Matthew Hollis, whose car refused to start in assembly area.

As the lights went out and 18 car field headed into Old Hall, Davies led from pole with Proietti tucking in second. But Heerey was in trouble, “it just switched off and I had to start it again,” he explained.

By the end of the opening lap the lead quintet had made a slight break, with Davies and Proietti heading Crispin, Julie Walford and Mick Storey.

Proietti had the lead a lap later, but both he, Storey and Ronald Mears had been handed 10 second jump start penalties. “I didn’t know about the penalties, so kept chasing and then went onto one cylinder briefly, overwhelmed with spray,” said. Davies.

Crispin took advantage and was second on lap four, before Davies’ car recovered, claimed the place and set off for the lead again.

“There was no way I jumped that start, “Proietti insisted, but it was enough to drop him to fifth in the final result and hand victory to Davies.

Crispin was third on the road before being promoted, “it was really difficult following and I judged my braking from where Lien braked. Then I got passed him and fell back more,” he explained.

Walford had looked settled in fourth until Yates closed in on the final laps. “It wasn’t my best start and I missed second gear,” he said.

Nick Clarke dropped back after contact with Heerey, who then retired with gearbox maladies. “I was on the grass at Island when the gearbox just went, “said Heerey. Yates was then suddenly up two places and made the last lap count as he snatched fourth, which after penalties became third.  “I got Julie on the inside of Shell, as I knew which line she would take,” he said.

“I could see Chris closing in and knew he would get me, still my best result though,” Walford replied.

Martin Riman completed the top six, “I got bogged down at the start so had to fight back,” he added. Ash Carter clinched sixth on the last lap, with Dartiailh, the recovering Clarke and Henshaw completing the top ten.

All three Hollis’ made it to the grid for race two and it was poleman Matthew that made the most of the start. Bousefield was initially second, until Storey managed to split them, leaving Bousefield under attack from a train of cars, led by Steve Walford. Luca Proietti and Crispin.

Storey was really on the attack for the lead, “I was going for glory into Cascades and then ran out of talent,” he explained after rejoining 11th.

With Bousefield back into second, the lead duo started to escape as the fight for third reshuffled and intensified between, Proietti, Crispin, Yates, Walford and Heerey.

It was just as close for tenth too, as Carter, Storey and Crook chased down Richard Hollis.

Bousefield briefly threatened to close on the lead, but it was Matthew Hollis’ victory. “I was trying to watch was going on behind and had a few slides as Ainslie closed,” he said.

“Mick Storey got me at Lodge and then went off, but I lost some ground looking where he might get back on,” Bousefield replied.

Proietti fell to the back of the third placed train for a while, which left Crispin and Walford side by side past the pits on lap four, before Walford went through at Old Hall to steal the final podium place.

Proietti fought back to regain fourth from Crispin with a lap to go, while Richard Hollis completed the top six after ousting Yates. “I got mugged on the Avenue,” Yates explained.

Heerey was still on the back of the group in eighth, “I got dropped for a while but managed to catch up again,” he said.

Mick Storey’s recovery netted him ninth, with Crook completing the top ten after demoting Carter on the last lap. “After not getting to the flag in race one, finishing was the aim and got the place when Ash went off at Cascades. I had a really good view of it,” Cook confirmed.

The next round of the Championship is at Croft on April 29/30.

Published by Peter Scherer for the 2CV Racing Club, March 18th, 2017.

Full results (PDF format): click here

 

Preview:

It’s a mixture of sprint racing and endurance for the 2CV Championship at Croft this weekend. After two 15 minute qualifying session on Saturday morning, the first of the two 20 minute sprints takes place at 1.40pm, with the second at 1.45pm, followed by another qualifying session for Enduro at 5.40pm.

Defending Champion Lien Davies will be out to repeat his success at Oulton Park in the first race, but with a win under his belt at Oulton too, Matthew Hollis will be looking for more.

There are 18 cars taking part in the sprints, with that definite family feel about the weekend as usual with 2CV’s. Sandro and Luca Proietti proved their pace and were first on the road at Oulton, before a jump start penalty took the win away.

The father and daughter team of Mick and Katy Storey are in action again, along with husband and wife Steve and Julie Walford and father and sons Nigel, Richard and Matthew Hollis.

Having watched from sidelines at Oulton, 2CV legend Pete Sparrow will be out in race one and the Enduro, while fellow stalwart David O’Keeffe will be joining in for the Enduro too, which runs on Sunday for two hours from 3.45pm. Also returning is former champion Alec Graham, adding to an already competitive field.

It may not be the fastest race of the day, but it’s likely to be closest.

 

Race report:

There were three different winners over the Croft weekend, with 2CV Racing legend Pete Sparrow taking the first, before Ash Carter celebrated his maiden success. The pair then joined up for the Enduro, but proved to be second best to Lien Davies and Ainslie Bousefield.

Sparrow was on pole for race one by a healthy 1.406s from defending Champion Davies, but there was little to separate Matthew Hollis and Jim Henshaw on the second row.

Sandro Proietti and Nick Crispin completed the top six qualifiers, with 18 cars ready for the early afternoon sprint.

As the lights went out Sparrow led into Clervaux, with Proietti edging out Davies for second. But the Champion quickly fought back, “Pete had a great start, but Sandro just had me for second. I soon got him back though and we stuck together and got away, “Davies explained.

With Proietti back in third from lap two, the chasing pack began to close, with Matthew Hollis, heading Crispin and Alec Graham.

“I was in the battle as we went into Tower but got forced out by Proietti and Crispin and had to take it too tightly, hitting the kerb. It bounced me back into Crispin and put the rear wing onto the tyre, then I spun at Tower a lap later and Mick Storey spun too to avoid me,” Hollis explained.

Proietti was still in third, but had Crispin in his wheeltracks, Graham closing and Jim Henshaw into the top six too.

It continued to be tight at the front as Sparrow and Davies shared a few exchanges. “I kept him on his toes, kept it clean and then thought second is better than nowhere,” said Davies after taking the flag 0.411s away from Sparrow and victory.

Proietti had continued to have the edge over Crispin for third until lap six, when they delayed each other, which handed the place to Graham, after initially splitting the duel a lap earlier. “I had a good start and made two places before Clervaux. I could see Sparrow and Davies getting away, but I was in the scrap for third down and had wanted to hang onto them. I had a few engine woes and definitely down on power on the straights,” said Graham.

Henshaw had also made it ahead of the Proietti and Crispin duel with a lap to go, “that was hard fought and I had some contact after not starting well, having taken fourth gear instead of second. I was on for fourth though until Sandro got me back on the last lap,” said Henshaw.

Crispin eventually came in sixth, with Carter seventh. “I had a good start but was well down when I had my run into the first corner cut off. So I just picked off what I could,” added Carter.

Julie Walford, Brian Heerey and Mick Storey completed the top ten.

Only 0.6 secs covered the top five after qualifying for race two, with Carter on pole from Ainslie Bousfield, Mick Storey, Luca Proietti and Henshaw, while Matthew Hollis completed the top six.

Bousfield grabbed the lead as the race got underway, heading a three car break from Carter and Proietti.

There was barely a coat of paint between the lead trio and Proietti made it into second on lap three. “Our battle allowed Crispin to close on us too though,” Carter explained.

Crispin had gained from Hollis’ misfortune, “the engine had been pinking, then the note changed and I pulled off, before limping through the rest of the race,” he said.

But on lap eight there was a sort out at the head of the field. “I got a run from third into Tower and passed Luca with two wheels on the grass, leading on the exit as Ainslie and Luca delayed each other,” Carter explained.

Crispin had also gained in the sort out and he piled the pressure on Carter for the remaining two laps. But it was a first win for Carter, from Crispin, Proietti and Bousefield, all covered by only 0.787s.

Storey had started the last lap in fourth, but lost out to Proietti, while Steve Walford, Sparrow, Glenn Oswin, Henshaw and Paul Rowland completed the top ten. “I had lost fourth gear part way through the race, so struggled to keep up,” said Henshaw.

Davies and Bousfield had pole for the two hour enduro, but there was some confusion at the start. As the grid exited the Hairpin and approached the line, Bousfield rightly took control of the pace as poleman while fellow front row man Chris Hall hung back.

Bousfield was then given a 10 second penalty for being out of position!

Different strategies from different pairings made the race even more confusing at times. Bousfield had led the opening lap, but made the compulsory three stops on the next consecutive laps. “We had worked out barring safety cars, that was the most effective way to change, so I got in from lap three for the rest of the race,” Davies explained.

So Sparrow led for the majority of the race, making his stops midrace to hand to Carter, while his co-driver then got into Hall’s car for the remainder of the race.

“We had to check an oil leak before I got in and then I climbed back to second and was following Matthew Hollis,” said Carter. “I had started last as I didn’t qualify as I had changed engines. I stayed out as long as possible hoping for a safety car, so then had to make three late stops,” said Hollis.

When Hollis made his second stop Davies took over the lead. “They kept putting P2 out to me as we had to consider the 10 second penalty. So I didn’t know we were leading or that we had won until I was first into parc ferme,” Davies explained.

Carter was second for the last four laps after Henshaw made his last stop, but he still held onto third, “I had changed the gearbox, but had no idea what was going on really. But I joined Graham and Nick Clarke in a great battle, although I mainly sat behind them and watched,” said Henshaw, celebrating his first solo podium finish.

Crispin just held onto fourth from Hollis, with Clarke/Storey sixth. Roy Eastwood, Paul Rowland/Graham, Oswin/Heerey and Chris Yates completed the top ten.

The next round of the Championship is in 2 weeks at Cadwell Park, May 13/14th

It was back to a double header sprint format at Cadwell Park for the latest round of the 2CVparts.com Championship. While Lien Davies added another win to his tally, it was a first for Brian Heerey since joining the Championship at Oulton Park.

Sandro Proietti took pole position quite comfortably over Davies, while Matthew Hollis and Nick Clarke shared the second row on a 19 car grid.

As the first of the weekends races got underway it continued to be any one from eight for the first four laps, with Matthew Hollis, Davies and Nick Clarke all sharing the lead, while Ash Carter led the second group as his quarry continued to escape.

Davies led from lap four and made a brief escape with Proietti, leaving Clarke, Mick Storey, Martin Riman, Hollis, Jim Henshaw and Heerey to fight over third.

The chasers soon caught Proietti again and Clarke was back second by the end of lap six.

Davies’ break started to increase as the fight behind continued to intensify, but Hollis’ hopes of another win were dashed. “I hit the bollards at the Gooseneck and it bent the front wing in,” he explained. His solution was to stop and latch the offending wing against the Armco by the paddock exit gate, pull the offending wing off and continue with one open front wheel.

Storey was the next of the chasers to make a move, taking second on lap seven, as Proietti slipped to fifth behind Clarke and Riman.

Davies found his lead starting to reduce as the top four paired off though and at the flag Storey was only 0.258s adrift of the defending champion, “it didn’t shoot off the line at the start as I had hoped, so it was really hard work. It was door handles with Sandro on one lap through Hall Bends,” he said.

Proietti had trailed Clarke for third as they started the last lap, but it was close. “I had never led before this race and I didn’t know it was the last lap either and Sandro got me at Hall Bends,” Clarke explained.

“My fan had broken in the assembly area and I had to take to grass once at Charlies to avoid hitting Martin Riman. I think I overtook everyone somewhere in that race,” Proietti replied after completing the podium.

Clarke retained fourth and Henshaw managed to escape from his batch to secure fifth, while Julie Walford snatched sixth on the last lap.

Heerey settled in seventh, “I decided to sit at the back of the group and behave,” he reckoned. Riman had been as high as fourth but took the flag eighth. “It was fantastic but I lost my brakes around halfway,” he said.

Nick Crispin hadn’t quite managed to stick with the initial break, but had enough in hand to keep Ash Carter at a safe distance for ninth, “it was all over the place and trying to kill me at the Gooseneck,” Carter added.

Mathew Hollis finally made it to the flag 11th, with Steve Walford escaping in 12th as James Dartiailh and Chris Yates took their 13th place duel to the line.

Chris Hall was next home, with John Widdowson, Nigel Hollis, Ron Mears and Richard Hollis all making it home too.

Storey had pole for race two in the car Clarke had taken to fourth, whilst alongside Ainslie Bousefield had taken over from Davies. Heerey and Henshaw shared the second row, with Luca Proietti and Steve Walford taking over from Julie, to complete the third.

Storey and Heerey were side by side from the start as they arrived at Charlies, with Bousefield in third. But as they charged down the Park Straight Storey was well down. “I had been punted off,” he explained.

The lead duo started to make a break as the rest of the field continued to change and change about. Henshaw was in third, from Walford, Proietti and Matthew Hollis. But Hollis made two places on lap three and began to threaten Henshaw for the final podium place.

Bousefield was continuing to shadow every move Heerey made without actually attacking for the lead. But it all went wrong for Henshaw. “I think I was celebrating too early, lost my straightline speed and they all came passed,” he explained.

Hollis, Walford and recovering Storey came by first, with Crispin and Proietti following a lap later, when third had suddenly become eighth.

Without warning the chequered flag suddenly appeared after 15 mins of racing and Heerey became a surprised maiden victor. “I felt under a lot of pressure and was permanently looking in my mirrors,” he explained.

“I was planning my race and the next thing I knew it was the chequered flag. There was no warning that the race was shortened and no last lap flag,” said an angry second placed Bousefield.

Storey’s magnificent fightback netted him third with a lap to go.” I didn’t like being punted off but enjoyed coming back through the field,” he admitted.

Hollis had been in third, but lost out to both Storey and Walford with a lap to go. “That was tough, I worked with Steve and actually got alongside Ainslie but there was no way through and then Luca got me at the Hairpin too on the last lap, “he said after coming home sixth.

Crispin was right behind Hollis as they took the flag, leaving Henshaw, Carter and Dartiailh to complete the top ten.

There was little to split Aubrey Brocklebank and Yates for 11th, while behind them Hall had plenty in hand over Nigel Hollis and Widdowson.

Katy Storey was 16th having been up in eighth earlier, while Mears and Marc Grasby completed the finishers.

The next round of the Championship is at Brands Hatch July 29/30th.

Full result PDF: http://www.tsl-timing.com/file/?f=BARC/2017/1719212cv.pdf

Mick Storey‘s 22 year wait for a win in the 2CVParts.com Championship came to an end with a dominant victory at Brands Hatch.

He had qualified his Rose Rosie 2 car on pole for the first of the weekend’s races, with 0.400s in hand over Nick Crispin.

But the next five qualifiers could hardly be separated, with Nick Clarke, heading Julie Walford, Alec Graham, Matthew Hollis and Sandro Proietti.

Ash Carter was next up, with Chris Yates ninth, despite losing his rear wing. The top 10 was completed by Rebellion WEC mechanic Tom Burgess, usually found tending Nicolas Prost and Bruno Senna’s car, but at Brands Hatch for his seasonal debut.

RACE ONE
Storey made an excellent start but there was chaos behind, before Hollis took up the chase. “I went from sixth to second through Paddock, great start,” start Hollis.

He had Proietti chasing too but contact with Clarke and Alec Graham soon had him sidelined. “Alec was on my inside and Sandro on my left, there was contact and I ran over my own wing and didn’t realise,” said Clarke.

“I got hit at the back by Nick and it turned me round as Alec caught me. I tried to continue but went straight on at Druids as there was no air in one of my front tyres,” Proietti added.

With Storey’s lead growing the second place battle intensified. Graham briefly escaped in second, before being hauled back as Hollis slipped down the order. “I messed up through Cascades, but still managed to stay in the group,” said Hollis.

Crispin took charge of the chasing group on lap five, but Chris Yates, Graham, Clarke and Hollis were all covered by inches.

With Proietti’s car still parked at Druids, Clarke pulled off too and brought out the safety car. “I had a good start, it was brilliant and thought I was home and dry until my team mate brought the safety car out. Then I spent the rest of the race watching my mirrors. Fantastic, 22 years of trying and I finally get my first sprint race win,” said Storey.

From the green flag Crispin and Hollis worked together and were poised to challenge Storey’s lead when the flag came out. Crispin had dived into second at Druids ahead of Yates on lap 10, but it was still a five car scrap.

Graham ousted Yates from third, but Hollis’ fightback had brought him back into contention for a podium finish. “I got a great run and took two cars on the straight. I was back to second and then braked too late at Paddock, ran wide and gave Nick the run up to Druids where he got me back, on the last lap,” Hollis explained.

“We were four wide up to Surtees on one lap, but couldn’t get anywhere near Mick until the end as there were challengers on both sides of you. I lost out a bit after the safety car, but got it back at Druids on the last lap,” said Crispin.

Graham’s charge for the podium ended over the last three laps after contact, taking the flag fifth after losing out to the recovering Yates with a lap to go.

Defending Champion Lien Davies had started at the back after plug problems in qualifying, but had climbed to sixth, before contact with Graham. “It was going well but after the safety car I seemed to have a blocked injector, so just poodled around to the end,” he explained after taking the flag ninth.

Burgess completed the top six, with Julie Walford seventh with inches to spare over Ash Carter. “I started the race in fourth gear, not good but at least it was better than neutral,” said Julie.

Marc Grasby finally secured his first top 10 finish, “I had a worse start than Julie but better than James Dartiailh,” he said. Despite running as high as eighth, he was both delighted and relieved with 10th. “It may be just 10th but it was like a win for me,” he added.

After just losing outing in his duel with Grasby, Dartiailh was still full of praise. “That was a great scrap with Marc and I was almost alongside him at the flag,” he said after losing out by 0.107 secs.

Simon Crook was 12th, with Nigel Hollis 13th after being caught up in a first lap incident with team mate Jon Widdowson and Chris Hall, when the latter spun and was t-boned.

Christine Savage was 14th on her seasonal debut, with Hall next home and Widdowson completing the finishers, despite having broken the chassis in his first lap incident with Hall.

Luca Proietti was on pole for most of the wet session for race two, but was pipped in the closing minutes by both Ainslie Bousefield and Burgess. Less than 0.5 secs covered the top five, with Steve Walford fourth and Graham fifth.

There was little to split the next group too, with Carter just edging Matthew Hollis. Mick Storey had taken over from Clarke and was eighth best, with Dartiailh and Crispin completing the top 10.

RACE TWO
Having just missed out on pole, Proietti Jnr started his race in determined fashion and headed the charge through Paddock Hill Bend, after initially entering side by side with Bousefield.

As the lead began to grow Graham was through into second at Clearways on lap two and quickly reeled in Proietti, as Crispin then ousted Bousefield from third, to head the pursuing group. “I made a fabulous start but didn’t know Alec was getting that close.” Proietti admitted.

But exiting Graham Hill Bend for the fourth time Graham was on the grass, just holding on without a spin, but rejoining down in eighth. “After the damage in the first race we used an old wheel on that rear corner and it just didn’t like that corner, so maybe it was a mistake,” said Graham.

Crispin was the new second man but couldn’t break the tow. “I just had to draft and not fight,” he said, as Hollis, Bousefield and Storey were in there too.

The pressure then began to build on the leader. With Hollis taking charge and Crispin following, through Surtees while Proietti fought back from third.

While Bousefield and Storey were just holding on in fourth and fifth, Carter held onto sixth, while the recovering Graham ousted Walford. But Walford continued to have his hands full with Grasby and Burgess for eighth and Dartiailh ran wheel to wheel with Katy Storey for 12th, which allowed Crook to get away.

Proietti managed to wrest the lead back on lap 12th, but Crispin and Hollis wouldn’t surrender. They began to work together and edged away to continue their three way battle, but with four laps to go it was back to a five car train.

Crispin was looking for his first win of the year and Proietti for his first ever. “I had it all planned, Luca got by into Druids with a lap to go and I planned to sit behind and challenge on the last lap, but then Matthew got between us,” he explained.

“I was happier with Nick behind me as we seemed to work together. So when Matthew got through I had to be defensive over that last lap. Tremendous though,” said Proietti after heading Hollis to the flag by 0.226s.

Crispin retained a comfortable if disappointing third, while Bousefield fell away in the closing laps, taking sixth from the closing Carter, having lost out earlier to the Storey and the recovering Graham whose duel went right to the flag. “That was close enough, but I had been relying on others mistakes,” said Storey.

Walford kept Grasby at bay to take eighth, with Crook completing the top10 after Burgess lost power in the closing stages.
Katy Storey came out on top of her duel with Dartiailh for 12th, while Nigel Hollis, Hall, Savage and Argentinian guest Nestor Marcote completed the finishers.

Patience, strategies, experience and little bit of luck once again proved the winning formula as Team Lion’s Peter Sparrow, David O’Keeffe and Alec Graham won the 28th 2CV 24hr race at Snetterton.

In the early laps the leading UK teams were caught up with the Mini’s, as Sandro Proietti tried to gain an advantage for Baycon Racing, but had Chris Bassett (Team Rebellion) and Pete Sparrow (Team Lion 1) following him through.

Bassett upped his pace still further and was a clear leader after 30 minutes, with Proietti, Simon Clarke (Team Gadget), Chris Yates (Blueberry Muffins) and Sparrow running line astern behind.
“We didn’t want him to be leading at this stage, it will use our fuel up quicker,” said the Rebellion crew.
But one hour down and Bassett was a still out front but only 2/10ths up on Sparrow, while Clarke and Proietti were still in their shadow, with Yates and Freddie Martin-Dye (Team ECAS) the early top six.

15 minutes later it was the first safety car, both Sparrow and Proietti took the opportunity for a quick fuel stop. “I was surprised we were staying with the Mini’s, but can only just stay with Rebellion’s pace, I think we will get better times in the tow and save fuel too of course,” said Sparrow.

Having started late the Steve Walford Racing entry had Mick Storey in for the first stint, but despite starting from the pitlane he was already up to seventh. “We had a loose wheel and only found it late on, so didn’t make the grid,” he said.

The GR Racing car of Mick Moore also had to make an scheduled stop from 18th place, “the exhaust came off and it was hanging as we pitted, so we had to use bigger springs,” said team leader Marc Grasby.

Keith Issatt also headed pitwards for the Vision/JPC/SRR/CSA Team from 16th. “The time goes quickly, but we seem to have got a misfire,” he said as Martin Wykes took over.

Bassett made his stop after 1 ¾ hrs, “I know they didn’t really want me to lead,” admitted the Rebellion driver.

It was a new leader though as the two hour distance was completed, with Chris Yates out in front for Blueberry Muffins, having a lap on Gadget Racing, Baycon and Rebellion, with Walford’s up to fifth and Glenn Burtenshaw sixth for Hollis Motorsport.

There were more driver changes into the third hour. But Blueberry Muffins still had a lap lead, with Christer Hallgren having taken over from Yates.

Baycon were back up to second with Philip Myatt having swapped with Proietti senior. “I did 2 ¼ hrs and that was such hard work,” Proietti admitted.

Walford’s climb continued as they rose to third, “it just went our way and we had a nice run through,” said second stinter Nick Clarke.

ECAS were fourth with Dan Willan taking the second stint. Jelly Snake Racing had swapped Ash Carter for Malcolm Best in fifth, with Tete Rouge rounding off the top six.

Going down the order however were Rebellion, into ninth while Team Gadget had dropped to 19th. “It had all been very good and working to plan, we refuelled at the first safety car and I stayed in as I intended doing three hours, then it just stopped on the Bentley Straight. It was probably electrical but we changed the engine,” said Clarke after handing the car to team boss Wayne Cowling.

Hollis Motorsport also lost extra times in the pits, “it was going well and then sounded awful, the manifold had split,” said Burtenshaw as he handed to Nigel Hollis.

Team Lion hadn’t escaped either, with the number 2 car having early problems, before the throttle car broke with their number 1 as O’Keeffe took over.

Into the darkness but still dry Blueberry Muffins continued to hold the advantage through the fourth and fifth hour, but Team ECAS had worked their way up to second.

The Walford crew were in trouble though and Julie had to pit with a broken exhaust, which after a temporary repair was welded.

Jelly Snake became the new third placed team, with Rebellion back up to fourth, from Tete Rouge, with Lion 1 back up to sixth too.

Blueberry Muffins hopes of glory came to an end however when their car was wiped out in a collision in the sixth hour, which gave the lead back to Rebellion once more. “James Dartiailh was having a problem with the throttle cable, stuck open and then stuck closed. We sent him out for another lap while we sourced a replacement. But it broke on the Bentley Straight and he pulled off, but was hit by Glen Oswin’s Tete Rouge car. The impact was about 60mph but both drivers were OK apart from being shaken, as the cars stood up remarkably well,” explained Blueberry Muffins team leader Chris Yates.

Into the eighth hour and Lion 1 took charge, having won for the last couple of years too, once again Sparrow, O’Keeffe and Graham had a plan that proved to be dominant once again.

With Paul Crosby and Philip Martin-Dye following Willan’s for ECAS they too became established at the head of the field.

5am and the halfway point arrived with Lion 1 six laps up on ECAS, Rebellion were a further three laps back in third and the Baycon trio of Myatt and the Proietti’s had once again clawed back to fourth and was on the same lap as MIM Racing’s Nick Crispin, Dave Watson and John Cutmore.

Jelly Snake had fallen back to eighth, which promoted the Scottish Rambo team and Pork Pie Racing, while Hollis Motorsport and GR Racing completed the top ten.

As dawn broke and the hours were gradually ticked off the Team Lion 1 trio of Sparrow/O’Keeffe and Graham reigned supreme, for Sparrow it was win number 10, with victory by seven laps over the ECAS quartet of Freddie and Philip Martin-Dye, Paul Crosby and Dan Willan. “Alec had a few problems with the brakes overheating, but we only used 2 litres of oil and the engine was perfect,” said Sparrow.

Graham also managed to collect one of the Liqui Moly cardboard promo girls on his last lap, taking the flag with her in the passenger seat.

Team Rebellion held third from the 10th hour, with Bassett, Tom Burgess and Phil Jose joined for the night stints by ex Legends Champion Oli Poyser, who had commuted to and from Cadwell Park and his duties at a British Superbike race engineer.

The Rambo Team of Derek Coghill, Ian Gibbon and John Paul Wilkinson stemmed the Jelly Snake recovery, taking third place away with three hours remaining.

The Ash Carter, Malcom Best, Alan Wiltshire car, finally taking sixth, after Gadget’s Clarke, Cowling, Ainslie Bousefield and Lien Davies pipped them two hours from home. It also crowned Davies as the overall Champion too for the second successive year.

The Pork Pie racing quartet of Chris and Don Hall with Colin Wilson and Jon Harmer held seventh over the last four hours, with Hollis Motorsport’s Matthew, Richard and Nigel Hollis joined by Burtenshaw eighth and Walford’s were ninth following two engine changes, which included putting the rebuilt original back in.

The Blueberry Tarts team also made it home 13th with Maria Cooke, Shirley Hennessy, Jess Owen and Katy Storey, having fuelled and done a driver change at every stop and only having replaced the gear linkage.

Vision/JPC/SRR/CSA completed the top 10 with Kev Fulbrook, Keith Issatt, Martin Wykes, Rob Rees and James Poulton, as the Baycon trio lost out on a probable eighth with a late engine change.

Away from the UK Championship the BNLL trio of Thierry de Bonhomme, Laurent Joussiaux and Rudy Coppetiers took the overall win in their Dyane Hybrid and the Mini class went to Ade and Simon Tuckley with Alan Eason and Ashley Shelswell.