Race of iconic Citroen 2CVs shows' tin snails' are faster than they look
Summary
The 2CV, which was in production between 1948 and 1990, has distinctive exterior-mounted headlights, a raised rear end and leans alarmingly on curves, making it an unlikely race car, particularly as critics often joked the "tin snail" could to 0-100 kph (62 mph) in one day. "Theyre faster than they look, they feel like F1 cars when youre inside them so yeah its great fun," said John Paul Wilkinson, one of the drivers who competed at the circuit in the eastern county of Norfolk during the weekend. Newcomers Beacon Downe managed to complete 708 laps of the three-kilometer (1.95 mile) circuit to claim the win on Sunday in what proved to be a hotly contested race, which saw the lead change hands several times. The 2CV was originally conceived as an inexpensive vehicle that would tempt French farmers away from using a horse and cart. The model number stands for "deux chevaux-vapeur" - or "two horsepower" - a reference to its taxable rate based on cylinder dimensions rather than the actual engine power.