As usual, qualifying for the second race took place just after the first session, so it was a quick change for some of the drivers who were sharing driving duties. As Richard Hollis, who had taken over from Nigel, tried to get Wee Fiona going it was met with shouts of "FIRE!" as the air filter caught alight faster than a Christmas pudding soaked in ten litres of brandy. A quick change of filter and he was ready and waiting with the other cars as the session started, singed but with an engine that was now running!

As the cars went out onto the track, Fergus MacLeod was left behind (as was Matthew Hollis, who eventually got going with every unfit mechanic's nightmare - the bump start!).

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.

Crook's braking issue was soon discovered to be quite serious, as having used the wrong brake fluid when he built his car, what was left that hadn't been destroyed did not offer much in the way of substantially slowing the car. Cue a lot of hasty work to replace much of the braking system the next day, in time for the second round of the 2009 2CVParts.com Championship. Qualifying had been held the day before, and it again found Martin Hindley at the top of the timesheets, although since then he had suffered significant damage in the first race, so it remained to be seen whether or not this would affect his performance (the few hundred metres to cross the line at the end of the race was not really enough distance to judge). Joining him on the front row would be John-Paul Wilkinson, followed by Steve Panas (driving Wayne Cowling's car), Alec Graham and Matthew Hollis.

HINDLEY TAKES A HIT AND A WIN

After an excellent season in 2008, the Classic 2CV Racing Club looked forward to an even better 2009. With big grids and close racing, there was no reason why this year could not be even better. However, as the credit squeeze began to develop more crunch than a Crunchie Bar filled with extra crunchy bits, it became a worry that perhaps the grid sizes would not be quite as big as last year.

Thankfully, when the teams arrived for the first races at Silverstone it wasn't all doom and gloom. Nineteen cars were entered, with several new faces amongst the line-ups. 2008 champion Phil Myatt returned, although he was now sharing Sammie Fritchley's car, the winning car from last year having been sold to Anthony Robinson.