The European Finals, it’s decision time at Santa Pod
Santa Pod Raceway
The 2015 FIA European Drag Racing Championship is reaching its climax with the European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway. In the sixth and last round of Europe’s most prestigious drag racing championship, five titles will have to be decided, and there is no second chance. In two of the five categories the championship can go down to the wire, in two other classes there is a clear favourite, and in only one category the name of new European champion is already known.
Less than four months after the FIA European Drag Racing Championship kicked off for the first race of the season, the teams are back at Santa Pod Raceway for the traditional grand finale, the European Finals. In five races in four different countries, favourites stumbled and sometimes failed, others lived up to expectations, while new names broke through. Within a few days we will know who the 2015 FIA European Drag Racing champions will be.
Micke Kågered
Top Fuel, Micke Kågered or Anita Mäkelä
After his Alastaro and Hockenheim wins, it looked like Micke Kågered would already retain his championship before the last race. But at Tierp Arena, Anita Mäkelä bounced back with a dominant win, and is now only 18 points short of leader Kågered.
Anita Mäkelä
Looking at the great form Mäkelä showed at the Scandinavian Internationals, and knowing she already won the Main Event at Santa Pod earlier this season, nothing is decided yet. With 20 points for a round win, it’s possible the last run of the weekend, the Top Fuel final, will decide who is the 2015 champion. Number three in the championship is Stig Neergaard, but the Dane is 98 points behind leader Kågered, so it will be a race between Mäkelä and reigning champion Kågered.
Liam Jones
Top Fuel rookie Liam Jones is fourth, with Scandinavian Internationals runner-up Duncan Micallef only four points behind in fifth position. The European Finals has nine entries in Top Fuel, including multiple champion Urs Erbacher. So even qualifying will be important, especially for the two title contenders.
Michael Gullqvist
Pro Modified, Michael Gullqvist or Mats Eriksson
In Pro Modified the fight for the championship is even closer. With his Tierp Arena win Michael Gullqvist took over the lead, but Mats Eriksson, the leader after the first race of the season, is only three points behind. As both drivers are extremely quick, it can be close at Santa Pod, and as in Top Fuel, the title fight can go down to the final.
Mats Eriksson
Bruno Bader is third, but the gap to leader Gullqvist is 77 points. Tero Laukkanen is fourth and Roger Johansson fifth. Pro Modified has 21 (!) entries, and among them seven of the top ten drivers in the championship.
Timo and Dennis Habermann
Top Methanol Dragster, Dennis or Timo Habermann
One thing is almost sure, the surname of the 2015 FIA European Top Methanol Dragster champion will be Habermann. But will it be leader Dennis, winner of the last two races, or Timo, who is out for revenge after being defeated in two consecutive finals by his brother. The gap between Dennis and Timo Habermann is 45 points, and although everything is possible, Dennis is the clear favourite. The two brothers’ championship dream can be spoiled, though, especially by home favourite Dave Wilson, winner of the Main Event. Including Jonny Lagg and Stefan Gunnarsson, Top Methanol Dragster has five entries.
Leif Andreasson
Top Methanol Funny Car, Leif Andreasson
Top Methanol Funny Car is the only class where the title is already decided. Leif Andreasson is leading the championship, with 2014 champion Johan Lindberg and Johnny Oksa in second and third position. Lindberg and Oksa will not be at Santa Pod and so the title will go to Andreasson. Other entries at Santa Pod are Jürgen Nagel and Stephanie Milam.
Thomas Lindström and Jimmy Ålund
Pro Stock, Thomas Lindström or Jimmy Ålund
The Scandinavian Internationals did not go according to plan for Jimmy Ålund. Engine damage in the final qualifier forced the reigning champion to use an unfamiliar motor in round one, and Jan Ericsson took the win against him. Ericsson is turning into a first round nemesis for Ålund, having beaten him in the first round at the last two events. With six competitors, there will be a bye run for the winner of the round one race between the numbers one and six qualifiers. Taking the number one spot in every round and winning the event will net one of the drivers a total of a maximum of 110 points. Ålund needs to attack hard for the whole weekend in order to gain these 110 points, and stop Thomas Lindström from taking his number one plate away. Lindström of course will be thinking exactly the same way, and so we should expect 6.5 second runs from the Summit Racing and Enskede Bilexpress sponsored Camaro and the Ernryd Cars / Hansen Racing backed Dodge.
Michael Malmgren
A recent entrant to the 6.5 second club is Michael Malmgren, who currently sits in third place, one point ahead of Magnus Petersson. Malmgren and Petersson can both mathematically still take even second place away from Ålund. If Ericsson’s round winning form continues, he could well be threatening fourth place in the championship.
Link to the European Finals entry list
http://www.santapod.co.uk/e_entrylist_eurofinals15.php
Link to championship points standing after the Scandinavian Internationals
Text: Remco Scheelings, Ian Hart (Pro Stock)
Photos: Remco Scheelings
