Liam Jones, Jimmy Ålund, Dennis Habermann and Bengt Ljungdahl number one qualifiers at The Main Event
Liam Jones
Liam Jones (Top Fuel), Jimmy Ålund (Pro Modified), Dennis Habermann (Top Methanol) and Bengt Ljungdahl (Pro Stock) claimed the number one qualifying positions at The Main Event at Santa Pod Raceway and will lead their respective categories into Monday’s eliminations at the opening round of the 2017 FIA European Drag Racing Championship.
Sunny conditions but less wind, and the data the teams and crew chiefs gathered from day one of qualifying for The Main Event were the main reasons the elapsed times dropped dramatically and the qualifying order changed numerous times in Sunday qualifying at Santa Pod Raceway.
Anita Mäkelä
In Top Fuel Liam Jones stormed to a stunning 3.975 seconds at 301.79 mph to take over the number one qualifying position from reigning FIA European Top Fuel champion Anita Mäkelä. The Rune Fjeld Motorsport driver was the only driver in the 3-second zone. Mäkelä improved to 4.00 seconds and was the number two qualifier after four runs.
Antti Horto
Antti Horto surprised with 4.06 seconds in his third run and the Finn ended qualifying in third position. All other drivers also improved on their yesterday performance and that made it possible that the number two qualifier from Saturday, Duncan Micallef, dropped to seventh position. Stig Neergaard, Urs Erbacher and Mikael Kågered will start eliminations from fourth, fifth and sixth position.
Jimmy Ålund
Jimmy Ålund was the big surprise in Pro Modified qualifying. In his first FIA Pro Modified race, the 10-time FIA European Pro Stock champion will start from the number one qualifying position. In his second run of the day Ålund stormed to a stunning 6.01 seconds at 235 mph to jump into the number one position.
Bruno Bader
Bruno Bader improved to 6.03 seconds and stayed in second position. David Vegter was the leader after three runs with a great 6.10 seconds, but as the Dutch driver couldn’t improve that elapsed time in run number four, Vegter dropped into third position.
David Vegter
Kev Slyfield, leader after day one, couldn’t improve on his earlier performance and ended qualifying in fourth position. Reigning champion Michael Gullqvist will start eliminations from seventh position.
Dennis Habermann
In Top Methanol Dennis Habermann improved to 5.42 seconds and that was enough to keep the number one qualifying position. His brother Timo Habermann stayed in second position while reigning FIA European champion Jonny Lagg improved on his Saturday performance to claim the third qualifying position.
Timo Habermann
Bengt Ljungdahl
In Pro Stock there were many improvements but no changes in the number one and two qualifying positions. Saturday leader Bengt Ljungdahl improved to 6.57 seconds and stayed in the number one position, while Saturday’s number two, Thomas Lindström, improved to 6.66 seconds and stayed in second position.
Thomas Lindström
Stefan Ernryd was the biggest surprise in Pro Stock as the number seven from day one improved to 6.67 seconds to claim the third qualifying position, closely followed by Michael Malmgren (6.68 seconds).
Stefan Ernryd
Eliminations for The Main Event at Santa Pod Raceway will start tomorrow morning, bank holiday Monday May 29.
More photos from The Main Event can be found at:
For pit notes see eurodragster.com:
http://www.eurodragstereventcoverage.com/santapod/live/2017fiamainevent/pitnotes/sunday.asp
For all Main Event results: http://www.santapod.co.uk/track/Results/2017/Main%20Event/
