Category: Race Reports

There was no shortage of action at a soggy Silverstone, where the 2CV Championship once again lined-up a 20+ car grid.

In the first race Luca Proietti led the initial charge down the Wellington Straight, heading Lien Davies, Nick Crispin and Gary Adnitt out of Brooklands.

Crispin was soon in front however and led a three-car break on lap two, from Proietti and Davies, with fourth placed Adnitt under pressure from Nick Roads.

Proietti tried to sling shot Crispin for the lead through Brooklands on lap four, just managing to retain second after using all of the run-off.

By half distance the top six had split into three duels, with Crispin v Proietti, Davies v Adnitt and Roads v David O’Keeffe, but it soon changed, when Proietti tried the wide line into Brooklands again and emerged with the lead, while Roads slipped behind O’Keeffe, as they both trailed Adnitt in a duel for fifth.

It was still line astern for the top three, but Crispin was back in from after eight laps and despite Proietti’s best efforts that’s how it stayed to the flag, with Crispin taking his first win of the season by just 0.159 secs, with Davies a close third.

“I had a good start and knew when I got away I had good grip and traction. I just had to work out where was too much and where was just enough, as Luca was just too hot in some places,” said Crispin.

“I lost the lead back to Nick at Maggotts, facing backwards when I locked up and spun, just left facing Nick and Lien,” Proietti explained.

“I was on Luca’s tail to push him back, but it was like a pram on goose fat, but happy to come in unscathed and see Nick win,” Davies added.

Although Adnitt held onto fourth, he took the flag with little to spare over O’Keeffe and Roads, who almost swapped through Woodcote as the flag came out.

“I got away with the leaders but then went offline as I made a run on Nick and got delayed. They got away and tried to hold my line from David and Nick Roads,” said Adnitt.

“Nick had a late charge at me, it was close but under control as much as it could be in the conditions,” O’Keeffe added.

“I had more grip than I expected and thought I had just nicked fifth from David. I could have had a go through Copse if Gary had been a bit quicker,” Roads explained.

Pete Sparrow was having a run in Andi Donaldson’s car and was in a solitary seventh for most of the race, while Andrew Bull came out on top of a big sort out for the rest of the 10, taking eighth from Mick Storey and Sebastian Jones-White. “I was eighth until I got a tap through the gravel at Luffield. The car was great though,” said Jones-White.

Martin Riman and Chris Yates ran in seventh and eighth in the early laps, but both missed out on the top 10, while Julie Walford just held off Simon Turner behind them.

Giles Owen was 15^th from the off-pace Matthew Hollis, while Max Wyer, Chris Hall, Nigel Hollis, Nicholas Home, Matthew Arrowsmith-Brown, Shirley Hennessy and Laurence Broadhurst completed the finishers.

It was still damp for race two, which O’Keeffe led as far as Becketts before running wide and dropping to fourth.

Crispin had the lead, with Sandro Proietti taking Adnitt on the exit of Becketts, but by the end of the lap it was Proetti, from Adnitt, Crispin, O’Keeffe and Steve Walford.

Adnitt ousted Proietti for the lead on the second lap, but it was all change again a lap later, as O’Keeffe followed team mate Adnitt into second, with Davies and Walford close as Crispin and Proietti both lost ground.

But exiting Copse a lap later the top three were in the clear, as Davies led Adnitt and O’Keeffe.

Although Crispin was still fourth, he had a damaged front wing, “I went for the inside at Copse and I though I had room and that Steve was letting me through,” said Crispin. However Walford turned in and they collided, sending Walford into a spin when he had further contact with Sandro Proetti and was then hit by Oscar Proietti.

“After Nick had tapped Steve he came back across the track. I thought I had missed him, but he caught by rear wing,” said Sandro. “He was rolling back when I hit him hard,” Oscar replied after retiring from eighth.

Davies was able to extend his lead, with O’Keeffe taking up the chase after passing Adnitt on lap eight. “The car ran well, I had good grip and managed drive passed Gary on the straight. “I could see them both behind me and wondered why they weren’t coming for,” said Davies after taking his win by over four seconds.

It was Adnitt in second though after O’Keeffe went off exiting Brooklands on the last lap. “I was just too quick going in and didn’t come out. I found the slippery bit and was in the gravel, after my mistake was trying to fight it,” O’Keeffe admitted.

“I had let David by as I thought he had the better chance of catching Lien, as I couldn’t keep up. But when I saw David spin off, I just laughed my socks off,” Adnitt replied.

Roads therefore completed the podium, fractionally ahead of Crispin and Bull, who swapped on the last lap.

“I had the handbrake partially on at the start, then released it and felt the benefit,” Roads admitted.

Owen completed the top six from Yates, with Turner, Proietti and Donaldson rounding off the top 10, after Proietti pitted to have his rear wing pulled off.

Glenn Oswin was 11^th, from Nigel and Matthew Hollis, while behind them Lauren Storey survived two large drifts at Becketts and Brooklands to come home 14^th. “I just couldn’t dive the car,” Lauren admitted.

O’Keeffe finally took the flag in 15^th, from George Broadhurst, Hennessy and Jennifer Hall.

Riman and Wyer had been early retirements but none as early as Ainslie Bousfield. “It wouldn’t start on the grid, so I changed some fuses but one blew again. I was pushed off the grid and they tried to start it, but it refused,” he explained after failing to start the race.

David O’Keeffe made it another double Team 2CV Lion victory, following team mate Gary Adnitt’s success at Cadwell.

O’Keeffe was on pole for race one, but the start didn’t go according to plan. “I didn’t even see the lights never mind them going out, then they all went so I got going,” he admitted.

His delay had caused problems for Adnitt too, “I nailed the start when David didn’t move, changed into second gear too hard and pushed the linkage down into neutral,” he explained after pulling off exiting Spitfires.

Lien Davies led initially from Nick’s Crispin and Roads, followed by Pete Sparrow, the recovering O’Keeffe and Martin Riman.

The top five continued to reshuffle but still; managed to make a break from Riman at the head of the chasing group.

Crispin had taken charge, but on lap three O’Keeffe ousted Davies from second and was soon looking for the lead.

O’Keeffe’s challenge paid off a lap later when he led into Hatchetts, but having gone into the Hairpin fourth, Sparrow emerged in second, from Crispin, Roads and Davies.

The lead battle had also allowed Riman and Ainslie Bousfield to close in too, but it remained far from settled at the front.

Although O’Keeffe had the upperhand he couldn’t make a telling break, and had Sparrow and Roads duelling for second, after Crispin and Davies lost a little ground after contact.

When Roads was in second the pressure on the lead was clear for all to see, whereas Sparrow was trying to help defend any challenge on his usual team mates.

Behind them Riman was solo in sixth, having shaken off Bousfield, but Mick Storey had taken Yates for eighth and had Sandro Proietti soon following.

Having already lost Adnitt and Steve Walford from the race, Davies followed after nine laps, vacating fourth place. “I knew it was going to be a bit of a mad race and when I was following Nick Crispin I misjudged the distance and hit him, then broke the fan later and had to pull off,” Davies explained.

Davies’ retirement moved Crispin back to fourth, from Riman and Bousfield, but the battle at the front was still as intense as ever, but now down to four cars.

Into Hatchetts for the 11^th time both Sparrow and Roads scythed ahead of O’Keeffe, but he was back into second at the crossing, with Crispin ready to challenge again.

It could easily have been any one from the top four right to the flag, with barely inches to spare. But O’Keeffe held on to take victory by 0.219 secs from Sparrow, and Crispin equally close in third.

“I lost a bit and was then able to catch them again and I had been on the grass twice,” Crispin admitted.

“Only 10hrs sleep in the last week to get the car ready was well worth it, really enjoyed the close racing in a car that’s not as quick as my usual one.” Sparrow replied.

“It was a bit of a fight, but Pete was pushing me along to keep me at the front,” O’Keeffe added.

Roads finally finished fourth after losing his podium quest in the last couple of laps, “a good race with lots of changes, but no sympathy given. I didn’t get to lead though and was a little low on fuel at the end,” he said.

Riman and Bousfield completed the top six, “I had a fairly  good start and was with Chris Yates. Then the original  break fragmented but I managed to hold onto Martin for a while,” Bousfield explained.

Both Proietti and Storey were late retirements, Proietti with a blown engine and Storey after a brief excursion, which promoted Yates back to seventh.

“I had a battle with Ainslie and Sandro, it was tight but I couldn’t stick with it,” Yates added.

Only 0.187 secs split Andrew Bull and Simon Turner for eighth, while an unusually off pace Matthew Hollis rounded off the top 10.

With only 0.328 secs covering the top five on the grid for the second race, Adnitt headed Chris Hall, O’Keeffe, Crispin and Roads with  another close encounter expected.

As the lights went out Adnitt just held the lead into Hatchetts, from Crispin, O’Keeffe, Roads and Sparrow, before Crispin went ahead into the Senna Esses.

O’Keeffe completed the opening lap second, with Roads, Sparrow, Adnitt and Davies making a six-car break, until Sparrow pulled off in a cloud of smoke at Spitfires on lap two.

Behind the lead pack, Turner headed the pursuit, from Storey and Matthew Hollis, before Storey went by into Hatchetts on the next lap.

Back at the front it was still five cars battling it out, with O’Keefe back in front, from Crispin, Adnitt and Davies, with Roads having slipped to the rear of the group.

While Storey had gone clear in sixth Hollis and Turner were still duelling for seventh place, but had another huge pack closing in on them.

Storey had begun closing on the lead quintet, who continued to swap and change behind leader O’Keeffe. His lead increased slightly on lap seven when having lost out to Adnitt a lap earlier, Crispin was back to second but was all still far from settled again.

Into Hatchetts for the penultimate time Davies tried his luck down the inside and emerged second, before Adnitt tried the outside on the final lap, which didn’t work.

O’Keeffe secured win number two by just 0.141 secs from Crispin, with Roads completing the podium. Davies, Adnitt and Storey rounded off the top six.

“I had another good start but knew the pack would hunt me down. I got passed David a couple of times again, but he had more pace,” said Crispin

“A pack of five, clean driving, I really enjoyed it,” Roads added,

The one-time seven car battle for seventh finally went to Andrew Bull by just 0.188 secs in hand over Julie Walford, with Turner and Yates completing the top 10, after Hollis dropped back.

Just missing out on the top 10 was Max Wyer, despite having made four places in one lap, only to drop back to 11^th from where his move started.

ADNITT’S DOUBLE WIN….. BUT SAFETY CAR DOMINATES

Only 0.233 secs split Nick Crispin and Gary Adnitt in qualifying for race one, with David O’Keeffe and Sandro Proietti sharing the second row of the 22 car grid.

Crispin made the best of the start in race one, with Adnitt and Proietti tucked in behind as they climbed the hill to Charlies. But the safety car was out immediately with Nicholas Home off at Charlies too.

But there was confusion following when O’Keeffe and Proietti both passed under yellows as Crispin and Adnitt slowed for the safety car. Proietti handed the place back, but O’Keeffe stayed in front.

After two laps the green flag was waved and O’Keeffe sprinted away, with Crispin and Adnitt nose to tail for second.

“I had gone ahead at Barn just before the safety car, then made a good restart from the green flag,” O’Keeffe explained.

Proietti snatched third into Coppice, but the lead quartet were line astern as they completed the opening lap, with Chris Yates and Lien Davies heading the pursuers.

Adnitt soon reclaimed third place and tried for second in Mansfield on lap five, while Proietti started to lose ground in fourth.

Davies made it into fifth on lap five, with Julie Walford following, as Yates slipped back to seventh. “Lien got me into Coppice and I couldn’t get back,” said Yates.

Over the Mountain for the final time Adnitt was all over Team 2CV Lion teammate O’Keeffe, but the door stayed firmly shut as they held station to the flag, with Crispin retaining a close third, having lost out to Adnitt into Park.

“I was in second when we got passed under yellows, so that spoiled the race,” Adnitt explained.

Proietti, Davies and Walford also held station to complete the top six, with Martin Riman claiming a late seventh at Yates’ expense. Matthew Hollis and Simon Turner rounded off the top 10.

“I made a poor start and then got a run-on David and Nick from third, but had to slow to avoid Gary and he got me back,” Proietti added.

“It was clean and tidy and I had a good battle with Julie at the end,” said Davies.

“Disappointing really as I didn’t get a very good start,” added Riman.

After the race O’Keeffe was given a one second penalty to drop him to third behind Adnitt and Crispin in the final result.

Three laps into the second race the red flags were out with Home and Sebastian Jones-White off at Barn. “My throttle struck open when I was challenging for eighth, “ explained Jones-White, at least I hit a big foam pad,” Home added.

From the restart it was Crispin from Adnitt, Luca Proeitti, O’Keeffe and Davies through Coppice, before a big opening lap sort out.

Adnitt had got Crispin into Park again and O’Keeffe was following from Davies, as Crispin and Proeitti slipped to fourth and fifth with Steve Walford challenging.

Proietti was quickly back into third and joined Adnitt and Davies in a telling break, while Walford led a five-car battle for fourth.

Davies began to look for the lead, but he couldn’t breach Adnitt’s defence, as the chasing group slowly started to fragment.

O’Keeffe and Crispin had retaken Walford and all three were beginning to spread out, but after holding seventh throughout, Matthew Hollis crashed heavily at the foot of the Mountain, when the front wheel was folded under after what appeared to be a hub failure.

Proietti and Davies had taken the Mountain side by side, with O’Keeffe laying in wait. Two exchanges followed with Davies in charge again, but their duel had helped Adnitt build on his lead.

With Hollis’ car stranded in the tyre wall, the safety car was out again and the clock began to run down. Three slow laps and it was down to zero, so out came the chequered flag and the race was declared after seven laps.

“I had to everything twice in that race. It was the same lunge I made on Nick as I did in the first race, then I had to defend. That’s consistency though,” said Adnitt after his second win of the day.

“I had managed to take second back from Luca into Park Corner, as I seemed loads faster into there than anyone, it’s my corner, “claimed second placed Davies.

Proietti was unable to challenge again with the safety car out, so had to settle for third. “I got hit more than once on the straight, but had fun though. It was sensational going side by side over the Mountain with Lien, and there was no way I was going to back out,” he added.

Fourth place went to O’Keeffe, with Crispin and Walford completing the top six. “I just hadn’t got the legs in this one. Park Corner is in my head and the exit of Barn the same, I get them both wrong. But I am happy to stay on and get a result,” Crispin explained.

Yates claimed seventh after Hollis’ off, while Andrew Bull, Richard Hollis and Glen Oswin were the rest of the top 10.

Results: https://www.tsl-timing.com/file/?f=BARC/2022/2216222cv.pdf

O’KEEFFE & PROIETTI SHARE THE SPOILS, BUT IT’S SPARROW’S TITLE

As the 2CV Racing Championship arrived at Donington Park, both Nick Crispin and Kris Tovey could mathematically take the title away from Pete Sparrow.

Sparrow was absent due to his clashing commitments in the Spa 24hrs, which meant Gary Adnitt took the wheel of Sparrow’s usual 97 2CV Team Lion car.

23 cars set out in qualifying with only 0.776 secs covering the top five of Nick Roads, Crispin, Tovey, Adnitt and O’Keeffe, with Matthew Hollis completing the top six.

As the lights went out Crispin led into Redgate, from Tovey and Hollis. With Tovey and Hollis side by side into the Esses, Hollis was into second place at Melbourne, which gave Crispin a slight break.

As they completed the opening lap O’Keeffe headed the chasers, from Julie Walford, Mick Storey, Adnitt and Sandro Proietti from the back of the grid, while Chris Yates and Roads completed the early top 10.

As Hollis and Tovey swapped again on the second lap, that allowed O’Keeffe to close in too as they went through the Esses.

As O’Keeffe emerged from Melbourne in third behind Tovey, Hollis had slipped to fourth with Storey now a solitary fifth after Walford pitted.

It started to close up at the front and Crispin’s domination was coming to end, as Tovey got by at the Old Hairpin. But Crispin came back to lead the four car train into the Esses on lap three, while behind Storey it was a four car train for sixth too, with Proietti, Adnitt, Roads and Yates.

It was all change though a lap later, “I was trying to hold the lead but it was so greasy and I had a slight off at Redgate through the gravel, “said Crispin.

Tovey was then side by side with O’Keeffe down the Craner Curves. “After Nick went off I got on the slippery line down the Craners, I missed the gravel but found the grass,” he explained.

O’Keeffe emerged as the new leader from Hollis, with Crispin recovering in third, while Tovey though still fourth, had lost ground.

Storey had hit trouble too, “there was muck in the carbs, otherwise I thought I could have caught them,” he said.

O’Keeffe held his gap over the final lap and took the flag 1.96 secs clear of Hollis. “They tried too hard and ended up on the slippery stuff and I didn’t. But I didn’t get away well at the start as I couldn’t get gears,” O’Keeffe explained.

“I got a really good start and the dampness of the track was a good equaliser, although there was almost a dry line in some places. I got closer to David at the end and we briefly nose to tail, “Hollis added.

Crispin and Tovey came in third and fourth, after Crispin had tried a last corner challenge on Hollis, resulting in a half spin.

Proietti was fifth. “I enjoyed racing through from the back. I struggled at the Hairpins though and it was shocking under braking,” said Sandro.

Roads was sixth while Adnitt just held onto seventh from Yates, “I hadn’t had enough track time in the car in the wet,” Adnitt added.

Turner slipped back in ninth towards the end, but was still well clear of Shirley Hennessy.

Crispin got the initial lead from Tovey into Redgate from the start of the second race too, with Luca Proietti third after storming first lap.

Neil Savage was a strong fourth, battling with Adnitt, Roads and Hollis, but O’Keeffe was well down the order. “I got wide at the Old Hairpin and Nick Crispin helped turn me,” he explained.

“Yes David lost it, came back as he hit the kerb and I tapped him and turned him into a spin,” Crispin admitted, as he lost the lead to Tovey.

As Tovey began to extend his advantage, Proietti and Adnitt made it past Crispin, with Savage down to fifth, as Roads and Hollis threatened.

As they went through McLeans on the third lap, Proietti was almost pushing Tovey, but he waited, until Goddards to make his move down the inside under braking, to exit with as a clear leader.

The lead duel had allowed Adnitt to close into, leaving Crispin a solitary fourth, while Savage and Storey continued to duel for fifth, while Roads headed Hollis, Yates and Max Wyer in growing train for seventh.

Over the final lap the gaps briefly began to open at the front, but it was all closed up again on the Melbourne Loop, with Proietti finally taking victory over Tovey by 0.592 secs. “I was a bit patient, I knew what I had to do and did it and a bit more,” said Luca.

“I tried,” Tovey replied. “My last move was just ambitious, I kept my foot in around the outside but on the grass and went bouncing. So snatched third gear and kept going,” he added.

Adnitt was another 0.270 secs down in third, “just brilliant, I had a go at it and it was my first sprint race for 15 years,” he said.

Crispin held onto a solitary fourth, while Storey managed to hold off Savage for fifth after they swapped a lap from home.

Roads, Hollis, Wyer and Yates finished line astern to complete the top 10 after a last lap reshuffle, while race one winner O’Keeffe had to settle for 11^th after his recovery drive.

Full results: https://www.tsl-timing.com/file/?f=BARC/2021/2142212cv.pdf

CLASSIC 2CV RACING CHAMPIONSHIP – MALLORY PARK

Former 2CV Champion Pete Sparrow continued his unbeaten run so far this season, with another double victory at Mallory Park.

It was Nick Crispin that started the opening race from pole however, having out qualified Kris Tovey by only 0.008 secs, with Sparrow and Nick Roads completed the second row of a 17 car grid.

Sparrow wasn’t originally entered, “I had been working on our other car and just forgot. The fuelling was all wrong too, so I had to best guess it for the race,” he explained.

Sparrow shot clear on the opening lap still, and was already a second up on his rivals by the end of the first tour. “I was right behind Nick Crispin through Gerards from the start and got him as we exited onto the Stebbe Striaght,” he added.

Crispin was still second, from Tovey, Nick Roads, Martin Riman and Sandro Proietti all in close formation, but as Sparrow continued to pull clear, the battle behind became more and more intensified.

Tovey took Crispin for second on lap four, while Proietti and Roads swapped for fourth, with Riman and David O’Keeffe running line astern behind. “Pete was off at the front and I was in the group six, all drafting and trading places,” said Roads.

Over the next few laps the changes came thick and fast, with Tovey starting to lose out. On lap seven Riman was into second, before Crispin took both Riman and Roads a lap later, after they had gone into Gerards as one with O’Keeffe, only to run wide onto the grass as they all tried to avoid contact.

By the end of lap 12 it was still any one from six, with Sparrow almost home and dry.  “While they were all fighting I got away from them all,” he admitted.

O’Keeffe had climbed to second, but behind Crispin had lost four places, as Roads, Riman and Proietti had all got by.

The final winning margin for dominant Sparrow was 1.4 secs over Roads, “I just managed to get David through the Esses to clinch second place,” said Roads, with O’Keefe having to settle for third from lap 12.

Riman led home the chasing group from Proietti and Crispin, all covered by only 0.161 secs, while Tovey tailed off to take a solitary seventh. Julie Walford was eighth, with Michael Fox and Simon Turner completing the top 10.

It was Tovey and Crispin sharing the front row of the grid for race two, with Sparrow back in fifth. Crispin had the first lap advantage, with Tovey and Luca Proietti running nose tail, just ahead of Roads, Sparrow and O’Keeffe.

Tovey made his move on the second lap and pulled out a brief lead, as Crispin battled to hold off Sparrow and Proietti, after they had swapped and shaken off Roads and O’Keeffe. “It seems to be between me, Kris Tovey and Nick Crispin for second in most races now, but this season has been the cleanest,” said Proietti.

The sort outs continued as Proietti headed the battle for second, with Crispin slipping fourth behind Sparrow, while in fifth O’Keeffe had taken Roads too. “I was in another group of six for the first few laps, but then Luca and Kris Tovey got away and Pete Sparrow was clear again, and I didn’t make much progress after that,” Roads admitted,

Once Sparrow had breached Proietti’s defence, Tovey’s lead was soon under threat and on lap five both had got by with Tovey down to third, but all three still within 0.5 secs. “I had a few more cars around me in that one, so just had to take my time,” said Sparrow.

A lap earlier Crispin had dropped to fifth behind O’Keeffe, but claimed it back briefly, but not before Roads joined in too.

As Sparrow’s lead slowly grew, Proietti and Tovey had stayed close and on lap eight they swapped, which increased Sparrow’s lead to 0.753 secs.

Tovey had closed in on the lead again and left Proietti solo in third, but with a lap to go Tovey made a mistake, which not only trebled Sparrow’s lead, but left his second place under threat from Proietti again. “I had worked together with Kris but made a mistake at the Hairpin and dropped off the tow,” Proietti admitted.

Sparrow’s winning margin was 1.859 secs, but it was Proietti in second, with Tovey losing out on the last lap with a loosening undertray. “I think Kris made one too many moves at Gerards and fell back, so I reeled him in and got a run on the Stebbe Straight on the last lap for second place,” said Proietti.

O’Keeffe and Roads’ duel had also split to a solitary fourth and fifth, while it was another nine seconds before sixth placed Crispin took the flag.

Fox was next home, while Turner claimed a late eighth at Matthew Hollis’ expense, with Aubrey Brocklebank completing the top 10.

So it now the countdown to the annual 24hr race at Snetterton – August Bank Holiday Saturday and Sunday.

Former multiple 2CV Champion Pete Sparrow continued his winning streak, with a double win at Brands Hatch.

Sparrow had taken pole position by 0.905 secs from Nick Crispin, who was just 0.064 secs up on Sandro Proietti, who was out in Nick Roads car. But sharing the second row was Sandro’s son Luca, the first time they have raced against each other.

Kris Tovey and David O’Keeffe shared the third row, with Martin Riman and Mick Storey next up, before Chris Yates and Simon Turner rounded off the top 10 in the 21 car grid.

From lights out the top four made a break on the opening lap, with Sparrow joined by Crispin, Luca Proietti and Tovey. Even they started to spread a little over the next couple of laps, with Tovey taking Proietti Junior for third on lap three. But Sandro had been slow away and slipped to ninth by the end of the opening lap.

O’Keeffe had led the initial pursuit of the lead quartet, from Riman, Matthew Hollis, Storey and Proietti Senior, until he lost three places as Riman, Storey and Hollis all went by, with the latter duo exchanging too.

Sparrow’s lead continued to grow and grow, but second had developed into a great battle between Tovey, Crispin and Luca.

It had been three abreast for most of the lap, with Proietti just hanging back. But on the run up to Druids on lap five he seized his chance, taking both places in one move as Tovey slipped back to fourth behind Crispin.

While Sparrow eased his way home to a comfortable win, Tovey was back in second from lap seven as they exited Paddock Hill Bend and started to consolidate, only for Crispin to  close again, having edged ahead of Luca.

They had been three abreast yet again through into Graham Hill Bend on lap eight, but as Luca tried to regain third from Crispin, he ran wide through the gravel at Clearways and was out of contention.

With Luca out of the equation Crispin was clear to concentrate on his challenge on Tovey for second, and on lap 10 he made his move which finally stuck, before pulling out 0.485 secs on his rival.

Tovey was still a clear third, but had been gained on considerably by the recovering Luca in the final laps.

Despite a visit through the gravel at Clearways on lap seven, Sandro fought his way into fifth from lap eight, while in sixth Riman just managed to keep Storey at bay as he had for the entire race.

O’Keeffe had little to spare in eighth as Marc Grasby threatened, both closely followed by Hollis and Chris Yates as they took the flag to round off the top 10.

 

The second race had to be restarted after Max Wyer had rolled at Paddock Hill Bend, but initially Crispin had got the jump on Sparrow as the lights went out, with everyone else in second.

Sparrow was just as unbeatable from the restart but it was a great scrap for second. Crispin just led Tovey, Sandro and O’Keeffe, but Luca had run wide and onto the grass at Clearways once more and was playing catch up again.

At the end of the opening lap Crispin headed the chase from Tovey, Sandro Proietti and O’Keeffe, but on lap three Tovey got by again into Paddock as the four-car train headed up to Druids.

Sandro began his push for second, but was having to defend from O’Keeffe. He made it past Crispin but Tovey was still second.

The battle ahead had also allowed Luca to rejoin the scrap, after his earlier excursion and he picked off O’Keeffe into Paddock for fifth on lap seven.

Luca’s pace then made it four abreast into Druids, he went in fifth and came out second momentarily before Tovey and Crispin retook.

The duel for third had allowed Tovey some respite, but Luca was determined to retake Crispin, as they both closed on Tovey again.

Luca was third into Druids on lap 10, but it ended in tears when there was contact with Crispin into Graham Hill Bend, sending both wide onto the grass.

Sparrow’s solitary race was totally dominant, taking his second win of the day by over 12 seconds from Tovey.

As Luca’s front wing came adrift, he limped home in sixth, which had left Crispin clear to secure third and reduce Tovey advantage in second to only 0.357 secs.

Sandro had also closed in and was right with Crispin at the flag, while O’Keeffe lost the tow in closing laps but came home a solid fifth.

Storey and Grasby held station for most of the race in seventh and eighth, while Hollis claimed a late ninth from Yates, with three laps to go.

It’s a long gap to the next round now due to the cancellation of the Pembrey rounds. So look forward to August 1^st and Mallory Park.

Full results: TSL

Video of races: Race 1, Race 2

Former 2CV Racing Champion Pete Sparrow proved unbeatable at Cadwell Park, taking two dominant victories after starting from pole position.

There was an excellent 20 car grid for the season’s opening round and it was clear after qualifying, that Sparrow was going to be the man to beat again. Kris Tovey, Sandro Proietti and Lien Davies were the top four on the grid for race one, with Luca Proietti, Tovey and Nick Crispin following Sparrow in the second

From lights out in race one it was Sparrow in command, with Crispin, Sandro Proietti and Tovey contesting second.

Behind them David O’Keeffe lost three early places, with Martin Riman and Matthew Hollis moving up, demoting Lien Davies on the second lap.

“I had a few suspension issues, and we were bedding in a new engine, but I wasn’t getting that top end for straightline speed,” O’Keeffe explained.

Proietti successfully ousted Crispin a lap later, with Tovey poised to follow. But Crispin held on for another two laps before he was forced to surrender.

By the end of lap five Sparrow’s lead was 1.641 secs and as the duel for second intensified, they continued holding steady the gap to the lead too.

There were constant exchanges between Proietti and Tovey though, but it was Tovey who was ahead onto the last lap.”We had worked together for a few laps and then had our own agenda. I finally got him back at the Gooseneck, but it was really tight,” Proietti explained.

Crispin retained a safe but solitary fourth, “it started OK but then lost performance after I had run wide at Charlies. Sandro got me at the Mountain and Kris at the end of Park Straight, so I was on my own after that,” he said.

Riman and O’Keeffe shared a few exchanges too, which allowed Hollis to join them. “The top four had gone, so I settled down with O’Keeffe and then we caught Riman,” Hollis explained, with only 0.393 secs covering all three at the flag.

Davies had lost ground early on, but was out after three laps in a dramatic retirement. “I had a reasonable start but couldn’t hang on, then it started bottoming out. I wasn’t fast enough and they just drove passed me. Then into Coppice the rear end got away and swung into a pirouette on the grass, but as I came across Nick Roads arrived at full tilt and we were both out.” he explained.

Chris Yates, Simon Turner and Julie Walford completed the top 10, the latter one of a number with carburettor jet issues.

Luke Wos was 11^th and behind him Chris Hall just held off Nigel Hollis. Michael Fox and Andi Donaldson went the distance too, while Ronald Mears, Mick Storey and Richard Knight were all a lap down.

For the second race it was Luca in the Proietti car, Steve Panas in Team Gadget’s repaired car and Aubrey Brocklebank in for Riman.

It was Proietti that led through Coppice though, before Sparrow took charge again, with Tovey and Crispin the early top four.

The lead began to grow fairly rapidly, with second place becoming a duel again between Proietti and Tovey.

Crispin was clear in fourth, but couldn’t live with the top three, while behind him Hollis had dropped behind Storey and O’Keeffe.

Sparrow built his lead and just held the gap, as the second place duel continued, with Tovey getting ahead for the first time on lap six. From there it was a constant exchange over the remaining laps, as they edged back towards Sparrow too.

But Sparrow took win number two with ease. “A good weekend and another clean start. It was the carburettor settings that made all the difference and a really good set up which all paid off for us,” said the double victor.

As in race one, Tovey started the last lap in second place. “I was quicker in some places and Luca in others, so fairly well matched. I was better through the Gooseneck, but overall happy with that,” said Tovey.

But it was Proietti who got the verdict, leaving Tovey to settle for third again. “Out of Park and into Chris Curve I made my move, as I could see yellow flags at the Gooseneck and knew I had to get by before them. I went for the inside and just made it, brilliant,” he explained.

Although Crispin was a solid fourth again, he continued to struggle. “It wouldn’t go around the Gooseneck and I just couldn’t stay anywhere near those top three. Then I had to slow towards the end just to stay on the track, after being shown the naughty flag,” he said.

O’Keeffe, Storey and Hollis stayed in virtual formation for the whole race, taking the flag line astern for fifth. “The car felt better than in the first race, but Mick did well to hold on to me, and he even tried to get me at Park,” said O’Keeffe.

Roads also had a fairly solitary run in eighth, having eased clear of Yates early on. Marc Grasby had reeled in Panas for 10^th and then by the end of lap eight they had both caught Yates too.

A lap later Panas had crashed out and Grasby was through to clinch ninth, leaving Yates to complete the top 10.

Turner was 11^th, while in 12th Roy Eastwood just kept Hall at bay, with Nigel Hollis close too.

Donaldson went the distance again, with Mears and Knight a lap down and apart from Panas, Brocklebank and Fox were also retirements.

The next round of the Championship is at Brands hatch on June 5^th/6th

Full results: TSL

Multiple Champion and 2CV Racing Legend Pete Sparrow, won both races as the short but entertaining season came to a close at Mallory Park.

Lien Davies had led th     e field through on the hectic opening lap, from Alec Graham, Sandro Proietti, Sparrow and James Dartiailh.

But in an immediate reshuffle Graham and Proietti both ousted Davies, with Sparrow down to fifth behind Dartiailh.

The changes continued as a four car break began to appear, with Davies reclaiming the lead for a while, before surrendering to Sparrow on lap six.

“When Alec started to drop back it became a real dog fight, but Pete Sparrow got to the front and went for it,” said Davies.

Nick Roads had joined in with Davies and Graham, but Proietti had hit trouble on lap three and fell well down the order. “I had trouble in qualifying, so was coming back through and when Sandro lost the rear and went off at Gerards, that helped me,” said Roads.

“I had got up to second into the Esses, but was too quick into Gerards, the rear end went loose and I fell off,” Proietti admitted.

Dartiailh had also lost ground, but fought his way back passed Glen Oswin and Mick Storey into fifth, before demoting early leader Graham on lap eight.

Back at the front Sparrow and Roads had managed to break the tow, leaving Davies a solitary third. “I should been able to hang on, but my steering rack was worn and the front wheels wobbled, but I thought I was safe in third,” Davies added.

Dartiailh’s charge had continued however, and he began to reel in Davies and on lap 14 he was through, but couldn’t consolidate his newly earned place. So it was Davies that finally claimed the place into the Hairpin on the last lap, well adrift of leaders Sparrow and Roads.

“I had the pace to stay with Pete but not to overtake him,” Roads added.

Oswin managed to take Graham for fifth on lap 15, while Storey was on his own in seventh. The recovering Proietti, David O’Keeffe and Nigel Hollis rounded off the top 10.

It was Davies to the fore again at the start of the second race, with Sparrow, Proietti, Graham, Nick Crispin and Roads in formation behind. Initially though Storey and Graham had been up there, until Storey had a touch, lost it and dropped to seventh.

But on the second lap Sparrow managed to not only get the lead, but started to make a decisive break as Luca Proietti, Davies, the recovering Graham and Roads all contested second place. “There was quite a bit of contact and Alec tapped Luca and dislodged his wing,” said Davies.

Proietti and Graham briefly got away in second, with Davies trying to hold on, while in fifth Roads and Crispin were duelling too.

As Sparrow’s lead grew, the second place duel allowed Davies to join in again and on lap six he had passed them both.

But Davies’ moment only lasted a lap, as both Proietti and Graham retook took him to continue their private duel.

The fifth place battle managed to close in on Davies, but he fought back to rejoin the second place scrap again, but this time took Roads and Crispin with him.

It was all change again on lap nine though, with Davies falling to sixth, as Crispin had found a way passed both him and Roads.

By the end of lap 10 Sparrow’s lead was over three seconds, but only 0.144 secs split Proietti and Graham.

Davies was out though, which left Crispin and Roads to fight over fourth, promoting Oswin and Storey into the fight for sixth.

“I had gone across the Esses with Nick’s Crispin and Roads and then the car wouldn’t turn in at the Hairpin, so I limped back to the paddock,” Davies explained.

With Sparrow safely on his way to his second win of the day, all eyes were on the fight for second, with Graham back ahead of Proietti from lap 12.

With three laps left Roads had sneaked back ahead of Crispin yet again, as both caught the second place fight. “Nick missed a gear at the Hairpin and we had both been across the Esses. We lost a bit of ground but caught up again,” Roads explained.

Proietti joined the casualty list, having been ignoring a black and orange flag, which then became black. His wing had been flapping for most of the race after contact from Graham, so it became a three-car battle to settle the podium places.

Sparrow had backed off but still had 2.224 secs in hand, while only 0.643 secs covered the next three, with Graham just holding on from Roads and Crispin.

Oswin was fifth after pipping Storey a lap from home, with Roy Eastwood, Patrick Cobb, debutant Luke Wos and Nigel Hollis completing the top six.

When all the points were totalled it was Alec Graham that was crowned 2020 Champion.

WINGROVE/MWR RACING QUARTET TAKE THE HONOURS

The numbers may have been down on last year, with the European visitors unable to make the trip, but the atmosphere and competitiveness were as strong as ever, despite the weather.

Wingrove/MWR’s Euro Hybrid with Peter Dalkin at the wheel was straight into an early duel with Alex Osborne’s AP Motorsport Mini, but it was Osborne that had a 6.661secs after the opening hour, a lead halved by the appearance of the safety car, when Chris Yates went straight on at Riches in the Blueberry Muffins car.

After Osborne had taken charge, Dalkin was straight into a second duel with Team Toyshed’s Chris Slade.

The rest of the top six was made up of Mini’s too, with Slarky Malarky’s Neil Slark, Team Mini-Uns Ashley Shelswell and Lyford Racing, before Pete Sparow led the Classic 2CV class for Team 2CV Lion, well up on Brian Heerey’s Crisis at Tete Rouge car.

The rain was getting heavier but from the green flag Dalkin was back ahead again into Riches, as Slade closed on Osborne for second.

Further down the order a great scrap was developing between Lien Davies (Team ECAS), Marcus Burnett’s GR Racing and DD Motorsport’s Kris Tovey.

But after the second hour Dalkin was a lap clear of Osborne, despite having a spin at Coram as Slark and Slade continued to duel for third, with Team Mini-Uns closing too.

Team 2CV Lion had climbed to sixth overall, but there were three more Mini’s on the leaderboard before Heerey’s 2CV in second place.

Davies had broken away for ECAS in for third in class too, with James Northfield’s Twin Snails completing the class top four.

Most of the first planned stops came in the third hour, but the MWR Wingrove car was still a lap clear, as the APO, Slarky Malarky and Team Toyshed Mini’s battled for the overall podium.

“It was very slippery, I kept going around the outside of the Hybrid but he powered back ahead on the straights, then the safety car kept closing us up too,” said second placed Osborne.

But some had problems already, “we had to make an early stop when a wheel bearing broke,” said Rosie Racing’s Julie Walford.

“I did three 3hrs and 20mins, had two spins and an excursion, but waited for the safety car before pitting and it didn’t appear,” Davies explained.

Both Blueberry cars had problems too, “at the first corner the car in front braked hard I lifted and spun,” said the Tarts Jessica Owen.

“My first stop was at the yellow flag when the Tarts spun, then a penalty for overtaking when I was just regaining the place taken off me,” added Muffins Chris Yates.

The Mini’s were still starring with APO’s Kieren McDonald second, from Ben Butler’s Slarky Malarky car, Toyshed’s Elliot Stafford and Mini-Uns Ade Tuckley, before in sixth was the leading 2CV for Team 2CV Lion and Alec Graham.

Crisis @ Tete Rouge were still in second, from ECAS and Twin Snails, but with the rain continuing to fall darkness came early.

Into the night Matthew Cobb put together a string of sub 2 minute laps to build the MW /Wingrove lead. With Mark Waghorn and David O’Keefe sharing to, they were seven laps ahead into Sunday morning.

The Mini duel for second had continued but it was Slarky Malarky now ahead of APO, after Lee Poolman encountered a misfire, with Mini-Uns next up and the 2CV Lion squad fifth overall, from Crisis @Tete Rouge and Twin Snails now third in class after a charge from Paul Rowland. “I am bloody good I am, and Alec got a great slide on trying to pass me on the inside at Coram,” said Rowland.

Toyshed had dropped well down though after a problem. “A bolt came out of the bracket for the clutch and it flexed rather than change gear,” Michael Dryden explained.

But as dawn approached Slarky Malarky had a two lap lead with MW Wingrove six laps off second placed APO after a number of overnight problems. “The crank sensor, the throttle cable and lots of other bits,” they explained.

Mini-Uns were still fourth and 2CV Lion fifth, with Crisis @ Tete Rouge still second in the 2CV class from Twin Snails and DD Motorsport.

Just before 7am there were more dramas, as MWR/Wingrove slowed again and headed for the pits and APO were in with a snapped fan belt.

Slarky Malarky’s quartet of Neil and Ian Slark with Ben Butler and Steve Miles continued to lead the way, but despite their problems MWR/Wingrove were back in charge into the 20^th hour.

They had another throttle cable breakage and had to be towed in. So Waghorn replaced Dalkin for a short stint before Cobb brought it to the flag and sealed victory.

Ian Slark handed to Neil for the final Slarky Malarky stint. “This was when we start hearing things,” Ian admitted.

Team Mini-Uns were third after APO had a two lap tow back penalty after running out of fuel, “Ade Tuckley did two night stints, but we weren’t brave enough in the dark,” Mini-Uns Shelswell admitted.

The Lyford quartet of James and Nick with Alan Evans and Tim Harber were fifth, but there was a dramatic finale to the 2CV class and sixth overall.

Sparrow had taken over from O’Keefe at about 7.15am, but just before 10am he pitted with concern over a front wheel. He rejoined but was soon back in changing the front hub assembly. “I still heard a noise maybe a rear bearing, then it went away and I just got on with it. I decided to stop worrying unless a wheel fell off,” he reckoned.

Their problem gave Crisis @Tete Rouge the class lead, with Twin Snails second, but with Heerey at the wheel, they had a late crisis with two hours left, when a front steering arm broke at Coram.

So Sparrow/Graham/O’Keeffe were back in front and claimed another win, but Crisis @Tete Rouge’s Heerey/Nick Roads/Sandro Proietti and Ian Gibbon were still a clear second, with Martin Riman, Aubrey Brocklebank, Northfield and Rowland completing the class podium for Twin Snails.

DD Motorsport’s Nick Crispin/James Dartiailh/Tovey and Sean Sidley completed the top 10 overall for fourth in class, followed by ECAS, GR Racing, Hollis Motorsport and Jelly Snake.

Rally racers had been up to second in class after some sterling work from Freddie Martin-Dye and Dan Willan. “It was going great until it broke, I think I passed every car twice,” said Martin-Dye.

All 21 cars that started took the flag in some form, some as they had started and some rather modified.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Racing was back in style at Cadwell Park, with action throughout the 2CV field before Alec Graham and Luca Proietti shared the victory spoils.

Graham had started from pole and led through Coppice on the opening lap, from Matthew Hollis and Sandro Proietti, before Lien Davies surged through into second as they arrived at Park.

By the end of the opening lap Davies was pressing Graham for the lead, leaving Hollis and Proietti to dispute third from Brian Heerey, Nick Crispin and Mick Storey.

While the lead duel intensified, Proietti made it into third on lap two and broke clear, while both Crispin and Storey edged out Heerey.
It was soon a five-car train for fourth place, as Hollis slipped into the battle and Crispin went to the fore.

The duel for the lead however had allowed Proietti to join in, but as he started to threaten Davies, Graham took the opportunity to make an escape.
But this only spurred Davies on and he snatched the lead for a lap, before Graham fought back, while all the time Proietti lay in wait.

Hollis’ challenge continued to fade and after six laps the top six had split into two three-car battles. It was Graham still with the advantage, but Proietti had ousted Davies, while behind them Crispin was just holding off Storey and Hollis, before a gap to Glenn Oswin, Richard Hollis-Brown and Michael Fox.

Proetti has his eyes on the lead though, he chased Graham into Charlies on lap seven, as Davies fell back. Two laps later Proietti was ahead out of Barn, only for Graham to surge back in front at Coppice as they started the last lap, sealing his round one victory by only 0.172 secs.

“That was my Pete Sparrow tactics, don’t lead onto the last lap and everything seemed OK,” said the victorious Graham.

But Proietti was so close in the closing laps, having succeeded in dropping Davies’ challenge. “Alec was so together, but I made sure he knew I was there,” Proietti added.

Davies was still clear in third but had struggled from mid-race. “We had a spare engine in this weekend, I got the lead but after a little push from Sandro at Park I lost the tow,” he explained.

Despite not being happy with his new car, Crispin had held onto fourth for most of the race, but after Storey and Heerey had shared a couple of exchanges, they both made it passed on the final lap.

Storey took the flag in fourth, with Heerey only 0.320 secs behind, as Crispin was left to complete the top six. “That was fine, very enjoyable,” said Storey. “I lacked grunt and found it hard to keep up,” Heerey added. “It’s just not right, that’s everything,” Crispin concluded.

Hollis had also struggled for pace and settled in seventh, leaving Oswin, Hollis-Brown and Fox to round off the top 10. Aubrey Brocklebank, Chris Hall, Chris Yates and Andi Donaldson completed the finishes, with Nigel Hollis the only retirement.

Although Luca Proietti had pole for the second race, once again it was Graham setting the early pace, with Storey heading the pursuit.
Proietti had slipped into second on lap two and led out of Barn, as the lead trio started to put daylight between them and their rivals, who had Davies, Hollis, Heerey and Crispin in contention.

Storey then briefly nosed ahead too, but the swaps and changes had allowed the whole of the top seven to close up.

It was a big reshuffle on lap four as Graham hit the front, from Davies, Proietti, Storey, Heerey, Crispin and Hollis, before Heerey made it into fourth at the Mountain a lap later.

Proietti had fought back into second and had started to attack for Graham’s lead again, while Storey was back in third from Crispin, as Davies fell back and Heerey was missing in action. “I had a clash with Lien, we both arrived at the corner at the same time,” said Heerey. “Brian took me off,” Davies reckoned?

While it was down to Graham and Proietti for the lead, third was still any one from three, with Storey, the recovering Davies and Crispin, while Hollis was doing his best to hold on.

Going over the Mountain for the penultimate time it was almost side by the time they reached Hall Bends, but Graham kept the door firmly shut. But Proietti was still fighting and his persistence finally paid off.

“Timed to perfection, I got him through Mansfield after he got a bit loose at the Gooseneck. I backed off and just got him down the inside under braking and then just kept the door shut,” Proietti explained after his lap success.

“One mistake, just too deep into the Gooseneck, but I thought I had it. Brilliant race though,” Graham added after taking the flag 0.968secs adrift.

Storey claimed a late third from Davies. “Just brilliant, but I nearly got caught up in Lien and Brian’s incident too,” he said.

Crispin followed Davies home in fifth, “better but not brilliant,” he reckoned, “I just had no power uphill and had to monster it just to try and catch up,” Hollis added.

Martin Riman settled in seventh from lap six, from Oswin, while Nigel Hollis survived a tank slapper on the Mountain crest for ninth, leaving Yates to complete the top 10.

Donaldson, Hall and Fox were the final finishers, after Heerey and Hollis-Brown retired.

The next outing for the Championship will be the annual 24h hour race at Snetterton on August Bank Holiday 29th/30th, possibly the only chance to do a 24hour race in the UK this year.

TEAM GADGET TRIO TAKE THE WIN, BUT IT’S ANOTHER TITLE FOR SPARROW.

It all started so well for Pete Sparrow and 2CV Team Lion 1, leading from the opening lap with team mates Team Lion 2’s Patrick Mason taking second on lap seven from Tete Rouge Crisis’ Brian Heerey.

But Sparrow had problems and lost his advantage, finishing the opening hour in third, behind Tete Rouge Crisis and Beacon Downe.

The Tete Rouge quartet of Heerey, Nick Roads, Ian Gibbon and Sandro Proietti and held sway until the fifth hour, when having shared the car with Sparrow, David O’Keeffe and Alec Graham were back into the lead, from Team Gadget, with Tete Rouge down to third.

All three stayed in the podium places for the next four hours, but reaching midnight it was Tete Rouge on top by 0.259 secs over from Team Gadget, with Team Lion 1 down in third.

Although Rosie racing were next they were four laps adrift, while Team Twin Snails and GS Racing completed the top six.

From 2am though Tom Perry, Simon Clarke and Lien Davies took charge and started to consolidate their advantage. “We had lost time though with blocked jets though when I was leading and lost out again for a while,” said Perry.

But what of Team Lion 1 woes, after setting the early pace? “I led again but had a problem with points. It upset the timing and we had to change the engine,” said Graham.

“I was on the lead lap in third too and wanted to work with our second car. But they pitted almost out of fuel,” O’Keeffe added.

At half distance though Team Gadget had a lap in hand over Tete Rouge, but it was GS Racing into third, with Nick Crispin, Marc Nordon and Hames Dartiailh a further eight laps down. “I had started the race for the first time, but crashed into Glen Oswin when I ran out of brakes at the Hairpin, then had to adjust the carburettor after four laps,” said GS lead driver Crispin.

Rosie Racing had moved up to fourth, but were now 10 laps off the class lead. “I had started but had to pit when I couldn’t get second gear, then it just got worse and we had to stop for Steve to welded it,” Julie Walford explained,

In fifth Twin Snails had problems too, “James Northfield had started for us, but we had a throttle spring break during the night, but doing Ok,” said Martin Riman.

Last year’s winners Beacon Downe had been had started well but problems soon arrived for them too, Richard Gardner had to pit with overheating brakes and Louis Tyson had a gear linkage break during one of his stints, along with other less major problems.

Over the next three hours Team Gadget extended their advantage over Tete Rouge to three laps. “Simon always starts for us, its tradition. Fuelling was horrendous though and went badly through the night, we changed the jets but our afr wasn’t working so we had to check the plugs,” Davies explained.

“It had been going Ok I got the lead for us, handed it over and got it back within laps, but we can’t stay there,” Heerey replied.

With numerous engine changes and a variety of other problems, the order was still far from settled when dawn broke.

The gap between the leaders had been reduced to two laps, by 8am, with GS still a clear third over, Twin Snails, Rosie and Beacon Downe, but Team Lion 1 were closing.

Two hours later Tete Rouge had taken back one lap and despite Davies bringing the lead car in with a puncture in the 20^th hour, the lead was still a lap.

But Sparrow and Graham were flying for Team Lion 1. Rosie Racing had lost out to Beacon Downe, Twin Snails and Team Lion, leaving the latter looking for a podium still at least.

Sparrow took the Twin Snails car for fifth around Coram, before Beacon Downe’s looked turned again when Gardner pitted with a broken engine mount and a bladeless fan, handing to Peter Rundle while it was repaired.

The 21^st hour brought up lap 600 and Tete Rouge managed to lead again, but only for one lap.

Clarke had been out for Team Gadget and made his final stop with 1 ¾ hrs on the clock, handing to Perry to bring the car home. “We have put our lightweight driver in and it’s now his to lose,” said Clarke.

It was a clear run to the flag for the Gadget trio, a repeat of the team’s last win in the 24hrs 11 years ago. “There wasn’t that much between me and Brian, but cannot thank Wayne and the other boys enough for this win, fantastic,” said Perry after taking the flag one lap clear.

“I tried as hard as I could, but couldn’t close that gap and hit the Beacon Downe car too, so had to pit again for the wing to be pulled out,” said second placed Tete Rouge Crisis’ Heerey.

O’Keeffe managed to get Team Lion 1 back on the podium in the penultimate hour at Crispin’s expense. “I was sniffing exhaust fumes for the last two hours though,” Crispin explained after brining GS Racing home fourth.

Beacon Downe still made it home fifth, aided by a late problem for Twin Snails. Riman came in for the last stop and needed an engine change before Northfield tookover, but he still held onto a well-deserved sixth.

Frog Racing were seventh, while Rosie Racing, Team ECAS and Blueberry Muffins completed the top 10.

Last minute Racing were one of the first to have problems, “Jim McDougall started and we knew we were in trouble when we had to change the engine after one lap, “said Mike Marais after many more changes throughout the 24hrs.

Iceni and 2CV Vision with SSR both completed more engine changes than your local garage in a month too, while the Hollis family managed an air filter fire and father Nigel tipping over in a cabbage field.

Just to finish things off Blueberry Tarts Shirley Hennessy lost a wheel in the closing laps and GR Racing’s Simon Glenn was stuck in gear at Murrays and had to get out and had to be pushed across the finish line.

BNLL TAKE OVERALL SPOILS

Four Euro cars made it to Snetterton to race in the Euro Class for 24hrs, but after only a few laps their numbers were reduced when the open topped Burton was out after 14 laps with an engine failure.

The BNLL car of Michel Crespin, Mehdi-Rik Boucherau, Philippa Denis and Claude Crespin led from the second hour, after the second team car had led initially, but finished four laps down after a crash at Riches, cost them a three laps tow back penalty.

CGS Racing Team were still classified third, despite not running at the finish.

In the Mini’s it was a win for Slarky Malarky’s Neil and Ian Slark with Ben Butler and Steve Miles.

Having finished the first hour in fourth, they led from the fourth hour and took the win and third overall by nine laps from Team Toyshed, with No Sleep til Sunday retaining third, despite a roll.