Stig Neergaard, Chris Polidano, Bruno Bader and Jimmy Alund provisional leaders at The Main Event at Santa Pod Raceway

neergaard_me_d1

Stig Neergaard

Stig Neergaard raced to the number one qualifying position in Top Fuel at the first day of qualifying for The Main Event, the first race of the FIA European Drag Racing Championship. In Pro Modified Bruno Bader leads in a new personal best of 5.94 seconds at 234 mph. In Pro Stock Jimmy Alund is the provisional leader and in Top Methanol Dragster 2014 champion Chris Polidano from Malta is the leader after day one.

Sunny weather conditions and a great track at the first day of qualifying for The Main Event, the first race of the FIA European Drag Racing Championship at Santa Pod Raceway, England

makela_me_d1

Anita Mäkelä

Anita Mäkelä (4.07 seconds) was the leader in Top Fuel after that first session. But in the second qualifying it was Stig Neergaard from Denmark who stormed to 4.02 seconds at 267 mph to take over the lead. Top Fuel rookie Steve Ashdown, who made his final licence run last Thursday, is the surprising number three qualifier after day one. Reigning champion Micke Kågered has some work to do, as the Swede is now in seventh position.

ashdown_me_d1

Steve Ashdown

bader_me_d1

Bruno Bader

In Pro Modified Bruno Bader stormed to 5.94 seconds in his second run, a new personal best for the Swiss driver. Reigning champion Michael Gullqvist (6,10 seconds) is second after day one and David Vegter from The Netherlands is the provisional number three qualifier with 6.19 seconds. Rookie Michel Tooren is a surprising sixth in the Pro Dutch Racing Cuda (6.38 seconds).

gullqvist_me_d1

Michael Gullqvist

vegter_me_d1

David Vegter

alund_me_d1

Jimmy Alund

In Pro Stock Jimmy Alund was in a class of his own with 6.58 seconds and leads the six car field after day one. Bengt Ljungdahl is the surprising second (6.63 seconds) in his first race with the Gray Motorsport Camaro. Magnus Pettersson, also from Sweden, is third after day one.

ljungdahl_me_d1

Bengt Ljungdahl

polidano_me_d1

Chris Polidano

In Top Methanol Dragster Chris Polidano needed his second run to take over the lead. The 2014 champion from Malta recorded a great 5.38 seconds. Dave Wilson is in second position (5.48 seconds) and Jonny Lagg is third.

Qualifying for The Main Event continues Sunday morning.

More photos from Saturday qualifying can be found at:

https://www.dragracingeurope.eu/fiaedc/santa-pod-fia-main-event-2016/

For pitnotes see eurodragster.com:

http://www.eurodragstereventcoverage.com/santapod/live/2016fiamainevent/pitnotes/saturday.asp

Series Partner
Media Partner
Travel Partner
Racing Fuel Partner
News Archive