The FIA European Championship is ready for a grand finale at Santa Pod
The FIA European Drag Racing Championship reaches its climax with the European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway, the traditional grand finale of the season. In all four categories the championship is yet to be decided and especially in Pro Modified, where the top four are separated by only a few points, anything can happen and the title fight may last until the final run of the season. But also in Top Fuel Duncan Micallef can’t relax as the championship leader is closely followed by Susanne Callin and even Jndia Erbacher can’t be counted out. In Top Methanol Jonny Lagg is the clear favourite, while in Pro Stock Jimmy Ålund will try to remain undefeated while claiming his 13th European Pro Stock title.
After four races, the FIA European Drag Racing Championship is back at Santa Pod Raceway for the traditional season finale. Following rounds in Sweden and Germany, the teams will have their third race in four weeks. Between the races the teams had a lot of work to do as hard racing at the edge comes with a price in terms of parts, chassis and engines. After the great and action packed races at Tierp Arena and Hockenheim, the expectations are high for the European Finals.
Malta, Sweden again, or………..
Last year Ida Zetterström dominated the Top Fuel class, but this season, after the rain out at The Main Event, the three races that were completed saw three different winners with Antti Horto, Susanne Callin and Jndia Erbacher. But the most consistent driver has been Duncan Micallef and that is why the driver from Malta is leading the championship. The 2017 FIA European champion and driver of the DM Motorsport/Rune Fjeld Motorsport dragster has a 35-point advantage over Callin.
The Swedish driver of the RF Motorsport/Slick Tricks Racing dragster still has a fair chance to claim the title. With five cars on the European Finals entry list and an 8-car elimination ladder there are more than enough points to win to swap position with Micallef.
What makes it even more interesting is the fact that even Jndia Erbacher has a chance to become champion, although she will need the help of some other drivers to cause an early exit for the two RF Motorsport drivers. Erbacher skipped the Tierp events but was the winner at Hockenheim. The driver from Switzerland is 59 points behind Micallef, but with 110 points to collect, it is possible when Micallef and Callin fail.
It is great to see Linn Fløysvik back at Santa Pod. The reigning FIA European Top Methanol champion completed her Top Fuel licensing procedure in the Nitro Viking’s Top Fueler at Tierp, early August. There was no plan to immediately compete in championship races this season, but suddenly Fløysvik and the Norwegian team appeared at Hockenheim and will also be at Santa Pod.
Last and definitely not least, Tommi Haapanen is back in the Top Fuel class. After a long break, while his wife Anita Mäkelä collected multiple FIA European titles, the Finn is back behind the wheel of his own ‘blue’ car. In the few races he took part in the last couple of years, Haapanen still proved to be quick and he can destroy the championship dreams of Micallef and Callin.
No predictions
The championship fight will be even more exciting in Pro Modified. We have also seen three different winners in this category in the form of Andreas Arthursson, Jere Rantaniemi and Andres Arnover, but it is David Vegter who is leading the championship. What makes it even more difficult and confusing in all predictions is the fact that only four of the five results count and that all drivers have to deduct the worst result of the five races from their points total. For several drivers that will be 0 points, because they skipped a race, but for Vegter that would now be 57 points, the result from Hockenheim.
To start with the order as it is now, Vegter is leading the championship after four races with 307 points. The Dutch Vegter Pro Mod Racing driver is the quickest driver this season, claimed three number one qualifying positions and recorded a great 5.79 second track record at Hockenheim. But there were also some engine issues at the worst possible moment in eliminations and that cost the Dutch driver valuable points. Vegter will definitely want to win the title in style with a victory at Santa Pod.
Andres Arnover bounced back with a great win at the Rico Anthes Quartermile after two difficult races at Tierp. The driver from Estonia collected 121 points in Germany and is only 11 points behind Vegter. Arnover’s worst result so far this season is 40 points he has to delete from his total of 296 points. That can make him a very dangerous challenger for Vegter.
But don’t forget Tierp winner Jere Rantaniemi. The Finn skipped the Hockenheim race and doesn’t have to delete a result. Rantaniemi has scored 246 points so far and after deducting the worst results for Vegter and Arnover, the number three in the championship is only 10 points behind Arnover and 4 points behind Vegter.
Stian Rusånes is the number four in the championship and being from Norway, is the fourth nationality in the top four. Rusånes reset his personal best at Hockenheim, has 239 points but will have to deduct 32 points, the Tierp event in June. But even then, when the top three make major mistakes, the Hammer Motorsport driver is the first one to take advantage of that.
Michel Tooren gained some positions in the championship after a great Hockenheim result and is the provisional number five. The Pro Dutch Racing driver is making steady progress with the new Camaro and is a force to be reckoned with. Because the car arrived too late for The Main Event, Tooren has a 0 score as his worst result and will only add points to the 212 he collected so far. It is even mathematically possible that Tooren will be crowned as the new champion, but then he will need a lot of help from all top four drivers.
The same is true for number six, Roger Johansson. The Swede has 193 points and a 0 as his worst result. That is 114 points behind Vegter, but after all the corrections, at the moment 63 behind Arnover. Johansson was the runner-up at Tierp in August and will be looking for a race win and not thinking about the title at all.
Bruno Bader is the number seven with 171 points. The Swiss Pro Mod veteran missed both Tierp races so the title is out of reach. But at Hockenheim Bader once again proved to be a real racer with great reaction times and being quick at the right moment. Bader advanced to the final at Hockenheim and can definitely eliminate at least one or two of the title candidates.
Peter Kunc is ninth in the title race and also a driver who has competed in all rounds of the championship. The Swede recorded some great ETs, but has been unlucky so far in eliminations. Also from Sweden comes fan favourite Fredrik Fagerström. Åke Persson is a regular competitor at the FIA races at Tierp Arena, so it’s great to see the quick Swede at Santa Pod now as well. Walter Strobel is the only driver from Germany at the European Finals and Marcus Hilt the second Swiss Pro Mod driver.
There will be two drivers from Denmark in Pro Modified and that is great. Kim Kristiansen made his comeback at Hockenheim after an almost 5-year break. Joeri Woudenberg updated the famous Pontiac and Kristiansen will need some seat time to get back in the 5 seconds.
Mike Reymond is the second driver from Denmark. The son of former Top Fuel ace Kim Reymond stepped up to Pro Mod last season and this will be his first outing with the nitrous Pro Mod Mustang in England.
Last but not least there are of course a number of drivers from the UK at the Euro Finals as they can also collect points for the Motorsport UK Championship. It is still a pity that none of them came over to Tierp Arena or Hockenheim as some of them are able to compete in the top five of the championship. First of all there is Andy Robinson, but also Bobby Wallace is able to win a race. Jon Webster, Wayne Nicholson, David Smith, John Tebenham and Mick Payne might not be among the favourites, but they can all surprise on home soil and destroy the dreams of title contenders. Sadly missed will be Jean Dulamon after his bad crash at Hockenheim. We all hope to see the Frenchman back in the championship next season.
With 21 Pro Mods on the entry list, qualifying will be exciting as there are only 16 drivers who can advance to the eliminations.
Lagg or Bryntesson, that’s the question
In Top Methanol the outcome of the title race is clearer. Jonny Lagg is the leader after the Swede won both races in August, Tierp Arena and Hockenheim. Lagg has a 38-point advantage over A-Fuel Team Sweden teammate Tony Bryntesson.
Sandro Bellio is the number three, but the former champion suffered severe engine damage at Hockenheim and had to withdraw from the event. The Belgian team said in Germany that it was impossible for them to be ready in time for the European Finals as they were lacking parts, something the low budget family run team has had to deal with the whole season. But the Belgian team surprised the world before with coming back in two weeks after a fire, and yes, they surprise again as Bellio confirmed last Saturday that the car is ready and they will be at the European Finals.
And there is an even later entry in the Top Methanol class as Silvio Strauch will also attend the European Finals. The original plan for the German Engine Ghost team was that Hockenheim would be their last race of the season and to start their preparations for a full 2025 tour. But during the NitrOlympX Strauch made major progress with the car and as they need track time, the decision was made to enter the Euro Finals.
With a 4-car elimination ladder Bryntesson still has a chance to become champion.
Number 13 for Jimmy Ålund
In Pro Stock it is not the question who will be the champion, but if the champion, Jimmy Ålund, can remain undefeated this season. The Summit Camaro driver won all elimination rounds this season, was quickest and fastest at all races and scored 394 points so far. At both Tierp races Ålund achieved the maximum score of 110 points! With a 110-point advantage over the number two, it’s only mathematically (when there would suddenly be a 16-car elimination ladder) that Ålund will not win the 2024 title, the Swede’s 13th European Pro Stock title and 14th in total, including his Pro Mod title a few years ago. Ålund makes it look so easy to run in the 6.5-second zone, but it is an exceptional performance and the result of experience, dedication, great engines, the right chassis set-up and great driving.
Robin Norén is the number two in the championship. The young Swede is going better every race, scored runner-up positions at Tierp and Hockenheim, but Ålund was simply too quick. Norén is a real racer with great reaction times and he will do everything he can to beat Ålund.
Michael Malmgren is the 2023 champion and number three in the championship. The Swede is 72 points behind Norén, was the runner-up at Tierp in June but lost in the first round at the same track in August and that is where he lost valuable points.
Last year’s number two, Stefan Ernryd, is the number four so far this season. After a difficult start of the season, the Dodge driver bounced back at Tierp in August. Ernryd is 30 points behind Malmgren and will do everything he can to bring the Dodge back in the top three.
Simon Ekengren is the number five in the championship and the second driver with a Dodge. The Swede has had a difficult season with too many early exits. Lasse Britsmar completes the top six in the championship and the 6-car Pro Stock field at Santa Pod. It’s great to see that six teams from Sweden will travel all the way to England for the final race of the season.
Qualifying for the European Finals will start on Friday 6th September and will continue on Saturday 7th September. Eliminations will start on Sunday morning 8th September.
Link to the European Finals entry list:
https://santapod.co.uk/european-finals-24-entrylist.php
Championship standing after four races:
https://www.dragracingeurope.eu/fiaedc/points-standing-2024/
Text and photos: Remco Scheelings
