If one name is becoming synonymous with Mondello it is Richard Dalton as his ECAS UK team claimed the top spot at the 2001 2CV 24hr race at Mondello Park once again.

They did it in convincing style, breaking the magical 1000 laps barrier and putting 19 laps behind 2nd place finishers Tete Rouge Racing, who had a battle to be included in the finishing line-up at all. A dispute with course officials over the use of radios in the pits saw them disqualified during the race for 40 laps, only to be reinstated again later.

It did look as if their would be an ECAS 1 - 2, with the Belgian entry from Marc Jamar running close behind their UK counterparts until the latter stages of the race when mechanical problems kept them in the pits. The ECAS pitcrew worked tirelessly to get them out on the track again, to huge cheers from the other teams present. It may not have been the quickest car to take the chequered flag, but was one of the most popular.

If awards were given to pitcrews rather than drivers, then the boys in the Collier Racing crew would have walked away with a trophy. During the race they carried out 11 engine changes and 5 engine rebuilds. Hard luck awards would go out to first-timers the A-Team, who buzzed an engine 50 minutes before the close of the race, and also Rektangle Racing who crashed out in the closing minutes.

Overall, it was an impressive return to Mondello by the 2CV fraternity, and next year promises to be even more competitive.