Chris Polidano maximizes at Tierp Internationals

Published 2016-06-29 | By Remco Scheelings

With two entrants, there were not too many points to collect in Top Methanol Dragster at the Tierp Internationals. But Chris Polidano made the best of it and couldn’t have done any better, earning the bonus points for being quickest in every qualifying session, ending up as the number one qualifier, and winning the final. The 2014 FIA European TMD champion from Malta is also the new leader in the 2016 championship.

Top Methanol Dragster had two entrants at the Tierp Internationals, but in Jonny Lagg and Chris Polidano, the Swedish race had both finalists from the opening round at Santa Pod. For the Maltese driver is was important to win the race to close the gap to championship leader Lagg.

Chris Polidano

Qualifying

Top Methanol Dragster was the only category to have three qualifying sessions at the Tierp Internationals. After the two Friday evening runs, there was also some time left for a third session on Sunday, after the Saturday qualifying was washed out completely. A/Fuelers are difficult to tune for a green and cold track, and after the Friday rain, Tierp Arena was no exception. But after an ‘up in smoke’ at the first attempt for Polidano, his second run was a great 5.48 seconds, good enough to claim the number one qualifying position.

Jonny Lagg

The Sunday morning run gave some more traction problems, but still the 2014 FIA TMD champion recorded 6.62 seconds. Lagg had even more problems with the track and after 21.37 seconds and a ‘no show’, the 7.35 seconds on Sunday morning was his best ET of the weekend. As a result of this qualifying, Polidano collected all the bonus points for being the quickest in every round and the points for the number one qualifying position.

Chris Polidano

Eliminations

Final

With two competitors, Top Methanol Dragster only had to run a final. But even that race was decided before the light turned green, as Lagg didn’t show up for the final and so Polidano had a bye run to win the Tierp Internationals. As everybody knows from the Maltese driver, he never takes it easy, and so Polidano stormed to 5.46 seconds, the best ET of the event, to take the points and the trophy.