The big one! When people think of 24 hour events they might think, Le Mans, Daytona, Group C, Hypercars and the like. One of the highlights in the British Automobile Racing Club calendar – the Classic 2CV Racing Club – 2CV 24 Hour. Yes you heard that right!

One of the most demanding and complex race weekends of the year – is also one of excitement, and has a real charm and character about it – the spirit of endurance and mystique of racing into the night. This weekend – 22nd-24th August the BARC and Classic 2CV Racing Club will descend upon Snetterton in Norfolk for the 35th running of this endurance racing classic… or should we say ‘classique’.

The Classic 2CV Racing Club first held races in 1989 with the first meeting at Mallory Park, and a year later the mad, crazy idea for a 24 hour race was hatched at Mondello Park in Ireland for the 2CV or tin snail as it is affectionately known. It has been held at Mondelo, Anglesey and most recently Snetterton. We caught up with Andrew Bull from the organising team to find out a little bit more about what we can expect this weekend.

“It’s the pinnacle of our calender,” enthused Bull. We have around 20 2CVs ready to take to the start and we will also be joined by guest series from the Citroen C1 and Mini Coopers to swell the grid as well.

“We like to make it a special weekend as well as a real cost effective one. To do the 24 Hour weekend is £3,500 split between the drivers and you get a lot of track time for that. As well as the race, we have Free Practice, Qualifying, Night Qualifying and a Warm-Up to get drivers used to cars and teams, work on set-up and get used to the Snetterton 200 layout.”

Regarding multiple drivers – that’s something we don’t see in the usual BARC calendar – How does it all work if you have multiple drivers in one car?

“Drivers share the driving, depending on the experience. Quicker drivers or more confident drivers go at the start as there is a lot of close racing, while younger ones might do the night stints as their eyesight is better! Each driver can only do two hours in the car and one hour off in a three hour period. Drivers can do a maximum of 14 hours, with no minimum seat time. If a car goes off or has a mechanical failure it can be recovered, but the team will receive an additional three laps, plus the time they lose recovering and fixing things. With one hour to go we take that safety net away, making things very tense for the teams.

“We have 3-4 drivers per car and importantly the car scores the points – so if two championship rivals were in the same car – the race result would give them both the same amount of points. However if you personally set the fastest lap or pole position – those points only go to the driver and that could make the difference come the end of the year.

Something Bull is chasing this year is his first outright title. Andrew has been involved since 1998 – running or preparing cars – but it has only been the last three or four years or so he has got behind the wheel himself. Having won the rookie championship in 2022 – the Crisis @ Tete Rouge driver would love a successful trip to Norfolk when the clock strikes zero on Sunday afternoon.

As well as the tantalising dynamic of the team work and driver stints – what other little things we should be looking out for at Snetterton?

“We have a Pole Position award which is quite special for us. The Graham Harper Trophy is in honour of Graham who was heavily involved in the 2CV racing scene and the trophy is made up with parts from his cars.The winner from the previous year has to fill it up with a gin and tonic of their choice and we do a presentation on the circuit as the award is handed over for the next team to enjoy the trophy and the drink as well!

“We also have a Spirit of the Meeting, Class Awards and UK 2CV Top Six awards and we award them on the podium at Snetterton.

“We also really involve the marshals too. The racing is really close which keeps things interesting for them as well as us. As well as goodie bags, we also buddy all of them up into racing teams so they get to go in team photos, added to WhatsApp channels and all sorts – we want them to feel a part of the meeting as without them it couldn’t happen. In fact our event is like a training ground for marshals as many have done the event to get a signature on their licence to say they have done a 24 hour meeting – enabling them to go on and do Le Mans in France for example.

It’s not just marshals that go onto great things – some famous names have driven in the series on the way up including F1 star George Russell, Triple W Series Champion Jamie Chadwick, Sports car driver Ben Barnicoat as well as famous names such as Mike Lindup from music group Level 42 and BTCC series director Alan Gow, who have all raced in the series in previous years.

It has a real electric atmospheric feel about the place, with everyone welcome to enjoy the event. We don’t get too many night time events in the UK. The paddock is very accessible with the public able to explore the garages and talk to team members and drivers. Although…you might not want to do that when they are changing an engine for example. Although you would only have to wait 10-15 minutes from the car coming in to leaving again! It really is special from start to finish.

If you want to experience some closely fought twice around the clock action? Look no further than the 2CV race on Saturday and Sunday. For more information on the race head to the Classic 2CV Racing Club – www.2cvracing.org.uk/about-the-2cv-24-hour-race/.