2CV racing turns 20 at the track where it all started!

On May 9th 1989, 22 Citroen 2CVs lined up on the grid at Mallory Park for the first ever British 2CV race. The event was won by Royce Grey, and received rave reviews in the press for its close and fun racing. Fast forward 20 years, and almost to the day, 26 Citroen 2CVs lined up on the grid at the same track, still offering close and fun racing, and at an affordable price as well!  How fitting then, that on the Championshipp's 20th Anniversary, a historic victory would occur.

It had been hoped that a trackday on the Saturday could be provided to commemorate the exact date 20 years ago that the first 2CV race had occurred, but unfortunately whoever was dictating the costs at the circuit had obviously forgotten that money doesn't grow on trees, so instead it was back to the BBQ for the numerous people who came along. It was good to see so many faces in the paddock who had come especially to celebrate the occasion, and it was left to Pete Sparrow (who had competed in the very first race, and would be competing 20 years later too) to cut the birthday cake, which was promptly consumed by those nearest to it.

Sparrow would be driving Simon Crook's car, which was still looking smart and shiny after the first meeting. Also making a re-emergence on the grid was Mick Storey, driving Andy Findlay's car, although announcing that he might have to change the gearbox before qualifying perhaps showed that he had not spent much of his time away from racing working on the car. Jon Twidale was also doubtful about making it onto the racetrack after failing scrutineering with seat belts that had exceeded their best before date. Cue a hasty search around the paddock for suitable replacements that could be borrowed.

The top four on the grid were separated by just over half a second, with Alec Graham ahead of Wayne Cowling, championship leader Martin Hindley, and Sammie Fritchley. Sandro Proietti, who had gone so well on his sprint race debut at this track last year, was next up followed by Simon Pearson (who would be sharing driving duties in Paul Taylor's car with Nick Grant after Matt Riley's solitary outing at Silverstone), Matthew Hollis and John-Paul Wilkinson. Hollis had done well to get 7th after spending most of the session in the pits after his throttle cable snapped. Sparrow was 9th having made several handling improvements to Crook's car, whilst Simon Gue almost made it into the top 10 in the Crisis Racing machine, which was going extremely well. Jon Twidale, belts and all, was 18th, just behind Nigel Hollis who was racing Wee Fiona, which had competed in the first season of racing 20 years ago! Trevor Williams was struggling down in 22nd, whilst 2008 Championship runner-up Andy Smith's car was in 24th at the hands of Fergus McLeod.

Lining up on the grid for the start of the formation lap, a few of the drivers wore concerned expressions on their faces as the startline marshals bunched the cars up to the extent that if one car had failed to get away, it would have boxed in all the cars around it. Fortunately everyone got away OK, and as they came around to line up for the race start, it was to find themselves being ushered into new, more spaced out, positions. With 26 cars to sort out in a limited time, it was perhaps not surprising that the postioning, certainly towards the rear half of the field, was slightly haphazard, through no fault of the drivers! As the lights went out, the front row of Graham and Cowling were outdragged by Hindley, and at the first corner it was Martin in front of Alec, with Hollis up to 3rd. By the end of the first lap of the race, Graham had dropped to 6th, with Hindley leading from Cowling, Proietti, Pearson and Fritchley. Hollis had been gobbled up by the pack and was down to 8th in just a few corners, a perfect example of how positions can change so quickly at Mallory. After a few laps Hindley was starting to pull out a small gap with a succession of quick laps. Hanging onto him were Fritchley and Cowling, ahead of Hollis, Proietti and Graham.

Further back, Lien Davies was the first driver to go off at Gerards, which would become a popular corner for excursions during the afternoon. He managed to get back on track but was now last, chasing Martin Harrold, Fergus MacLeod and Peter James. By half distance, the relentless pace that Hindley was setting had resulted in only Fritchley still keeping in touch. 5 seconds behind was Hollis, who had caught and passed Cowling, these two a further 5 seconds ahead of Graham and Proietti. Then came a 5-way scrap between Wilkinson, Pearson Sparrow, Anthony Robinson and Aubrey Brocklebank. Trevor Williams, Helen Deeley and Simon Gue were battling for 12th, whilst 7 cars were fighting for 15th - Christine Thompson, Mick Storey, Jon Twidale, Steve Chappell, Michael Fox, Nigel Hollls and Simon Bowrey! Darren Baker should also have been somewhere in the midfield but he wasn't - he was in the pits, posting the first retirement.

By this time, the leaders were starting to lap the tail-enders, and whilst Hindley and Fritchley made it through safely, Hollis was not so lucky and found himself spinning at Gerards as he tried to pass Davies. He managed to keep it going, got his head and charged... straight into the tyre barrier at the same corner on the very next lap! This left the top three settled - Hindley, with a reasonably comfortable lead having negotiated the 7 car squabble for what was now 14th, which was still raging on with Twidale and Thompson in charge. Fritchley was still within striking distance should anything happen to the leader, whilst Cowling was a lonely 3rd. With just a few minutes of the race left however, one of Hindley's spark plugs blew out, as did his hopes of winning! Past went Fritchley, Cowling, Graham, Wilkinson, Proietti and Pearson, with more to follow.

As the chequered flag fell, it was Fritchley who took the win to claim her first victory and the historic achievement of being the first female to win a 2Cv race, on the 20th annniversary of the series! Cowling was second whilst Wilkinson snatched 3rd on the last lap, an impressive performance considering he had been as low as 11th at one point. Rounding out the top six were Graham, Pearon and Proietti. Robinson had just edged Sparrow for 7th, ahead of Deeley and Williams. Hindley had kept going on one cylinder and crawled home 13 - one more lap and it would have been closer to 23rd. Poor Nigel Holllis was also running on one cylinder, albeit intermittently, as his fan had exploded with such force that it damaged the engine cowling and knocked the spark plug lead half off! He finished 21st, just ahead of James, MacLeod and Harrolf. Thompson had won the battle for 14th from Twidale, with Chappell, Storey, Bowrey, Fox and a recovering Davies behind.

Report by the Hollis family.