Stig Neergaard, Michael Gullqvist, Jimmy Ålund and Dennis Habermann number one qualifiers at Alastaro
Friday Pro Modified and Pro Stock leaders Michael Gullqvist and Jimmy Ålund couldn’t improve on their earlier performance, but it was enough to remain in the lead of their classes. In Top Fuel and Top Methanol Stig Neergaard and Dennis Habermann were the new number one qualifiers after Saturday qualifying for the FHRA Nitro Nationals at Alastaro and will lead their respective categories into Sunday’s eliminations at round three of the FIA European Drag Racing Championship.
It was not the best day of racing on Saturday at Alastaro, as again oildowns caused long delays and were the reason the final qualifying for Pro Stock had to be cancelled.
In Top Fuel, Stig Neergaard stormed into the lead with a stunning 4.02-second run. Friday leader Anita Mäkelä improved to 4.21 seconds but dropped into second position, while Antti Horto improved to 4.30 seconds and will go into eliminations as the number three qualifier.
Friday’s number two qualifier Janne Ahonen couldn’t improve on his earlier performance and dropped into fourth position. Championship leader Duncan Micallef is seventh qualifier and will have to face reigning champion Mäkelä in the first round of eliminations.
With his Friday best elapsed time of 5.902 seconds, Michael Gullqvist from Sweden claimed the number one qualifying position in Pro Modified. The reigning FIA European champion couldn’t improve on his Friday performance, but his elapsed time was enough to remain in the number one position.
Friday’s number two, Jimmy Ålund improved to 5.97 seconds, while Friday number three qualifier David Vegter improved to 6.02 seconds.
With Ǻke Persson, the fourth position also remained unchanged, but Håkan Persson (6.10 seconds) is the new number five qualifier after four runs, with Bruno Bader in sixth position.
With his Friday best elapsed time of 6.59 seconds, Jimmy Ǻlund claimed the number one qualifying position in Pro Stock.
Championship leader Bengt Ljungdahl improved to 6.61 seconds and jumped into the number two position, with Michael Malmgren third with 6.65 seconds. Friday number two, Stefan Ernryd couldn’t improve on his earlier performance and dropped into fourth position, with Thomas Lindström in fifth.
In Top Methanol Dennis and Timo Habermann impressed again and stormed into the number one and two qualifying position with elapsed times of 5.37 and 5.39 seconds.
There was also a major improvement for Ari Pietilä. The Finn recorded 5.75 seconds and jumped into the third position, while Friday leader Jonny Lagg dropped to fourth.
Eliminations for the FHRA Nitro Nationals at Alastaro will start tomorrow morning, July 2th.
Qualifying results: https://www.fhra.fi/keskustelu/threads/fhra-nitro-nationals-2017.695/page-2, (scroll down the page to see the results)
For more photos, see: https://www.dragracingeurope.eu/fiaedc/photo-gallery-fhra-nitro-nationals-alastaro-2017-fia-classes/