Historic Win for “Equipe Rosbif “– Paul Ricard 24hrs -05/06 November 2022
Posted on: November 21st 2022 • Posted in: Race Results
Les 2 Tours d’Horloge 2022 – Race report by Fern Potter
The French circuit Paul Ricard nestles almost midway between Marseilles & Toulon and is only 15 kilometres (10 miles) from the Mediterranean coast. So, the attraction for “Equipe Rosbif” to return to the challenging 24-hour race, Les 2 Tours d’Horloge (translation: around the clock twice) was too strong to resist. – wine, food, sun & beach !!!
As Ross Hyett, said after the team’s first attempt last year “Let’s end the season brilliantly in 2022, and take part in this 24-hour race again. What a great way to finish the season!” How profound those words were by Ross earlier this year in Sports 2000 Podcast #18 Team L’Equipe Rosbif in a 24 hour race (2021)!
For the 2022 campaign at Les 2 Tours d’Horloge the team took two cars, both Tigas. The original Tiga SC83 from 2021 attempt, where they finished a creditable 12th overall and 3rd in class was to be driven this year by the Hyett clan – Father, Ross a Le Mans veteran and sportscar ace, and his two sons Nick & Charlie; both of whom were very competitive in this season’s Historic Championship and this year the car was prepared by Pegasus Racing.
The second car was built & prepared by Sports 2000 stalwart and ‘Mr Google of Sports 2000’, Chris Snowdon of CSR.
The driver line up for car #32 was impressive: all 4 drivers were Sports 2000 champions – Chris Snowdon, David Houghton, Mike Fry & Josh Law. Their car was a Tiga SC84 which had had a ground up restoration by CSR and included everything learnt from car #23, which CSR had built for the first 24-hour attempt in 2021.
In practice, Car #32, despite having not raced in 20 years, and only having one shakedown session at Silverstone, required minimal adjustments to take the team through to a fantastic qualifying session. Likewise, David Houghton, who had not driven a Pinto for some 10 years since winning the championship, showed he had not lost his touch in these cars. A fact not lost in his recent performances in the Duratec championship. Pace and class shone through with the drivers of both cars.
From the first time Josh sat in the car at Silverstone it was clear his outright speed could be a useful weapon and the thinking was that if they dropped behind at any time in the race then maybe he could pull them back up the grid. As it was Josh gave the team a huge boost before the start – qualifying 2nd overall so on the front row of the grid! They now had a clear advantage starting ahead of the midfield where they had expected to be.
Heading into the 24hr race both teams were confident in their preparation and set-up; mechanically, mentally and physically – although there was even a rumour that Chris Snowdon and Mike Fry had both been to the gym, only to find out that they had been lost and were looking for a motor factors!
The sun was shining at Paul Ricard and the team were raring to go racing. The strategy was clear, minimise pit time to maximise position on the track when crossing the finish line. The question perhaps, was how the tactics might play out between the two cars – Car #23 had youthful exuberance plus natural speed (Ross is a young septuagenarian!); while car #32 had more years of racing wisdom. Would one of the cars run hard at the beginning to push other cars in the class and so help “Equipe Rosbif” to secure a class win with one of the cars or would they both run to a pace so protecting the car and manageing both fuel and tyres.
As the race began, car #23, piloted by team Hyett (Ross, Nick and Charlie) showed their pace, placing 3rd overall after 3 hours, with car #32 in 10th……… however, this is where the wheels started to fall of (figuratively, not literally).
Through the middle part of the race Car #23 spent over 3 hours in the pits, with several hindering mechanical issues. Nonetheless the garage teams of Pegasus and CSR combined to demonstrate tenacity, guile and expertise from the likes of mechanics – Adam, Charlie & Grant, in keeping car #23 on track and finishing the race.
When dawn rises at 24-hour races it is often a point of relief as the long dark night sessions can be quite energy sapping. None more so than for the pit lane crew and timekeepers, Bryony & Tony were the omni present & highly effective timekeeping & tactical team who worked the whole 24 hours with precious few breaks. Along with the whole team of volunteers; from the ‘newbie team members’ – the Law family & friends, to the hardened mechanics and their never say die attitude the cars were kept running. For those who recalled the Toyota car #5 at Le Mans 2016; they knew it’s never over until you pass the chequered flag.
After the demise of a variety of Porsches and other Sports 2000 cars , Car #32 was locked in a battle with Pascalou Racing’s Porsche 930 Turbo (you read that right, a 930 turbo). For the last few hours there was less than a handful of laps between them. The pressure was firmly on for car #32
For the other “Equipe Rosbif” car (#32) Charlie took the final session in his inaugural 24hr event, there was pressure of a different type, the determination to finish after a torrid time. The mix of youth and Hyett senior’s experience, meant Charlie could nurse the car across the line to finish 18th and a distant 3rd in their class. A great effort given the catalogue of challenges team Hyett had faced – broken exhaust, clutch issues, gearbox bolt failure and a fuel leak. Nick showed great heroism surviving a nerve-racking drive back to the pits with a fuel leak, which as fuel got onto the rear tyres caused him a number of spins. Nick however went back out after they fixed the car and was quickly on the pace again; the competitiveness, focus & toughness of his rugby career shone through.
For car 32, despite keeping ahead of the pack, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Towards the end of the race, they were suffering with a misfire on left handers, which causing Chris Snowdon some worrying moments as the clock ticked down. However, having stuck to their race strategy of preserving the car, keeping off the kerbs, minimising gear shifts and maintaining pace, team CSR brought the car #32 home in first place!
Appropriately Chris Snowdon drove the final stint in the car and as “Our champs “ (to be said in Charlie Robinson’s northern accent !) crossed the line with 2 laps in hand, ahead of car #5, a Porsche 930 turbo. The canny CSR run “Equipe Rosbif” car had used the cornering prowess of the Sports 2000 Tiga to diminish the Porsche’s straight line speed advantage.
Team CSR’s elation at the result was pulpable; the cocktail of relief, disbelief and sheer thrill at the result, being the winner of a 24-hour race, was simply incredible or should that be “incroyable” !!!
As Chris Snowdon was keen to recognise afterwards; car #32 achievement was an absolute total team effort. To get each other, and the car, through 24 hours of racing everybody needs to, and did, gel fantastically well. They worked together with one common goal, to finish the race come whatever. From the outset the aspiration was to win their class. Outright victory was what dreams were made of. However, almost magnetically, outright victory became more attractive, as every hour of the race ticked by. But would Lady Luck look favourably on them? The answer was “Yes” and perhaps car 5, Porsche 930 Turbo, along with a couple of other French teams might think Lady Luck did not look kindly on the local teams. However, as Ross Hyett often says, “racing is a series of disappointments with the occasional highs !”
For “Equipe Rosbif ” victory at Les 2 Tours d’Horage, on 06 November 2022, was a high, the whole team of hero volunteers truly deserved. Also noteworthy was the realisation that at the 30th anniversary of the Les 2 Tours d’Horloge, the race was won by a British Team, possibly for the first time – so a historic victory in an historic car.
“Equipe Rosbif” exuded the Sports2000 spirit at this 24-hour race and reflected what the President of SRCC Sports 2000, Derek Bell MBE, has said on many occasions “Go out and make every minute of every day count.” Well, this intrepid two car team certainly did that – Very well done from all in the Sports 2000 community.
Click Here for the pdf of the results.
