ATTRITION THE KEYWORD IN 2 CV END UR O
If there was one word to describe the 28th running of the 2CV 24 Hours held this year at Snetterton it would be attritional. Though every single of the 33 cars entered finished the race it was by no means an easy run for the teams. Few cars, most notably the Minis and 2CVS, made it to the end without at least one engine change and significant fine-tuning of their carburettors.
These problems did not affect the Belgium dominated Euro 2Cv/dyane Hybrides class to the same extent. The three cars entered with their aerodynamic bodywork and 850cc BMW motorbike engines led for the entire race. The Bnll 1/Gt Racing, Bnll 2 - Bmr and Wingrove Racing cars swapped first position several times throughout the opening hours. This was until the Wingrove car suffered ignition failure at midnight while the Bnll2 - Bmr machine required a replacement clutch six hours from the finish, spending an hour in the pits. This left Team Bnll 1 and its drivers Thierry de Bonhome, Laurent Jossiaux, Rudy Coppieters and Philippe Courtois to take victory by a margin of 24 laps.
Of the six Mini Coopers entered into the race only two finished in the top 10 classification. Team Misfits (Steve Rideout, Dave Rees, Connor O’brien and Paul Ogborn) was ironically the team that had the smoothest running, finishing 45 laps clear of second in class Team Toyshed, which had come back from losing a wheel minutes into the race. Behind them Lyford Racing had been running close to the top two until a clutch failure in the fifth hour and a damper and water pump failure in the sixth eradicated their chances of a class win; nevertheless the team remained third in class.
The 2CVS were dominated by Beacon Downe’s drivers Peter Rundle, Louis Tyson, Richard Gardiner and Kris Tovey. From the start the team was among the top five but endured a seven-hour tooth and nail duel with Team Gadget Racing – who’s charge was scuppered by an engine issue. Team Twin Snails became Beacon Downe’s primary competitor, just ahead of Dan Willian Coaches Team Ecas. This became a fierce tussle for second until the front right wheel of the Team Twin Snails machine sheared off going into Wilson Hairpin at the end of hour 19.
Last year’s winner and favourite for race victory, Team Lion, was unable to repeat its 2017 performance. Both cars suffered eventful races including contact between #97 and the overall leader that resulted in a stop and go penalty for the leading car for causing an avoidable collision. A comeback drive netted a well-deserved top five class finish for the #97 machine.
Classic Formula Ford 1600 driver Benn Tilley had a stunning weekend at Snetterton, the Merlyn Mk20 driver took pole for both the races, preceding to take both wins at the overcast Norfolk venue. Despite this dominance it wasn’t completely effortless. In both rounds he was chased home by Royale RP26 pilot Rick Morris most notably in the final race where they finished less than half a second apart at the line.
Thomas Ward was the star performer in Junior Saloon Cars. In only his second race meeting he succeeded in coming away with two third places despite starting from the back in race two. Lewis Saunders and Joel Wren were victorious in races one and two, respectively.