When promoter Magnus Laird first approached the Classic 2CV Racing Club with the proposal of a live televised race meeting, a few people could have been forgiven for thinking it was some sort of joke! But serious he was, and so it was to be that on May 16th 2010, the 2CVs lined up on the grid along with a number of other championships, to take part in the historic first Motors TV live race meeting.
The attraction of getting your race on TV encouraged several more drivers out than there had been at the first meeting. Whether this was due to the location, commercial opportunities or the drivers being vain, was never fully investigated. Nearly all of the competitors that had been at Cadwell were in attendance, but they were joined by several notable names.

Multiple champion David O'Keeffe appeared in the Level 42 car, Anthony Robinson's son Mike, currently racing in the Clio Cup, was in Aubrey Brocklebank's old car, and Le Mans and Snetterton 24hr Dutchman Michael Vergers was sharing with Alec Graham. Ginetta racer and 24hr regular Carl Breeze was hoping for a good showing in the Fine Print car, as were Roger Lott and Mark Evans, who would undoubtedly be quick if all went well. It was also good to see another Cardell on the grid, on this occasion it was Lucy, who was driving sister Zoe's car in what would be her very first race!

It was made clear in the regulations that time would be an issue throughout the day, and that there would be no hanging around waiting
for cars that may have been delayed getting to the assembly area. Having said that, circumstances were not improved by the fact that a power cut affecting the whole of Kirkby Mallory meant that the organisers were struggling to run the event! In the end, enough generators and power was found to broadcast the racing at least, but it was rare to spot a non-stressed BARC official!

One 25 minute qualifying session was scheduled, but with 2 race grids to be decided it was not 100% clear as to how the 2nd grid would
be decided. In the end, it turned out that the times were re-set half way through the session, forming two different grids. However, there were a few cars that were being shared so in wasn't necessarily the driver who set the qualifying time who would be doing the race, depending on when they changed over in the qualifying session! One man who made sure he got the quickest time in the first hald of the session was David O'Keeffe, who duly took pole position by just under two tenths from Phil Myatt. Yes, *that* Phil Myatt! The 2009 champion had been ruled out of competing in early 2010 after his finger had an argument with a granite slab and lost. But like some sort of weird bionic man, he had recovered enough to race at Mallory! It was the Robinsons up next, with Mike ahead of Tony, followed by championship leader Matthew Hollis, Wayne Cowling, Sammie Fritchley and Ainslie Bousfield.

Poor Carl Breeze had only managed one lap before he started having clutch problems, which was just the beginning of what was going to be a very frustrating meeting for him. In fact, Breeze's meeting got worse almost as soon as he got back into the car. Failing to get out of the pitlane on the warm up lap can hardly count as a good result. The remaining 23 cars followed the safety car round, in a 2x2 formation for the first few rows, and then a drive-where-you-like formation for the rest of the field, to take the rolling start and begin the 10 minute sprint. The power cut meant the starting lights were not functioning, which perhaps caught out a few drivers as the Union Jack flag was waved instead. The big loser on the first lap was Mike Robinson, who was down to 5th by the first corner, and 10th by the end of the lap!

All was not lost though, as the Mallory slipstream train was just getting going. Leading was O'Keeffe, followed by Myatt, A Robinson, Cowling, Bousfield and Vergers. Next time around it was Myatt leading from Cowling, O'Keeffe, Bousfield, Hollis and Vergers. Clearly this order was not going as be settled any time soon! The TV pictures may have focussed on the leading bunch of 7-8 cars, but there was plenty going on behind. Mick Storey was having a good race, in 10th place, with Nick Paton just behind (Paton was driving the car that Lewis Hopkins had raced at Cadwell). After them was a six car gaggle made up of Simon Crook, Roger Lott, Darren Baker, Nick Roads, Martin Riman and Lien Davies. Aubrey Brocklebank and Derek Coghill were having a tussle for 18th, with Mark Paterson just behind, and then Lucy Cardell and Mike Fox bringing up the rear. Keith Shoebridge had never really got going, and eventually retired after 3 laps.

But up at the front there was a slight pattern emerging. No matter who led during the lap, either O'Keeffe or Myatt would cross the line first at the end of it. Mike Robinson had fought his way brilliantly back through the pack and briefly led on lap 6, but by the end of that one it was Vergers who was in front, followed by O'Keeffe, the aforementioned Robinson, Fritchley (who was gradually creeping up and set the fastest lap on her way there), Myatt and Bousfield. Anthony Robinson, Hollis and Cowling had lost out in the close fighting, but were still only 3 seconds behind, and with Storey and Paton a further 2 seconds back, it was still all to play for as the time ticked away.

It would all come down to judging when the last lap would be, and being in the right position, but one driver who got it totally wrong was A Robinson, who spun off at the Esses, rejoining down in 11th. It looked as though Myatt would be the victor as he led going into the hairpin on the last lap, but O'Keeffe was having none of it! Up on the cowpat kerb he forced his way alongside and as the cars came on to the start/ finish straight there was literally nothing between them. In fact, they were so close, side-by-side, that they locked together as O'Keeffe made sure Myatt examined the very edge of the track! This allowed M Robinson and Fritchley to get a run, so that across the line it was 4-abreast, looking for all the world like a staged photo finish for the cameras!

Just 0.143 seconds covered the 4 cars, but it was O'Keeffe who edged it by 0.027 seconds! Vergers had to settle for 5th having been in a
strong position going into the last lap, followed by Cowling, Bousfield and Hollis. Just 2.3 seconds covered the top 8! A bit further back
were Storey, A Robinson and Paton, whilst Davies won the midfield battle, claiming 12th in the process.

It had been an excellent advert for the closeness of 2CV racing. Could race 2 produce the same!?

Qualifying:

1st: David O'Keefe
2nd: Phil Myatt
3rd: Mike Robinson

Race:

1st: David O'Keefe
2nd: Phil Myatt
3rd: Mike Robinson