David Vegter runner-up in FIA European Pro Modified Championship
David Vegter finished the 2024 season with a more than excellent second position in the FIA European Pro Modified Championship. With around twenty participants per race, participants from ten different countries and 36 drivers who scored points this year, Pro Modified is the most competitive and most international class of the FIA European Drag Racing Championship. But still, there were mixed feelings for Vegter and his team Vegter Pro Mod Racing. In almost all races, the Dutchman was the quickest driver on the track, led the championship for a long time, but missed the title by a minimal margin because bad luck struck at the most decisive moment of the season.
David Vegter was ‘the man to beat’ in the Pro Modified class of the FIA European Championship this season. The tone was set at the test race preceding the championship, The Doorslammers, where the Dutchman in his Vegter Pro Mod Racing ’67 Camaro came close to his personal best and European record as well with 5.76 seconds. At the opening race of the FIA European Championship, The Main Event at Santa Pod Raceway, Vegter claimed the number one qualifying position and also recorded the quickest ET in the eliminations with 5.766 seconds. Vegter repeated this feat at the two races at Tierp Arena, Sweden, where the Vegter Pro Mod Racing driver took over the first position in the championship with a runner-up finish at the second round of the championship.
At the NitrOlympX at Hockenheim Vegter didn’t claim the number one qualifying position, but in the eliminations he reset the track record with 5.79 seconds. However, a mechanical problem was the reason that the Dutchman, who was in a winning position, was eliminated before the final. Nevertheless, Vegter went into the final race of the season, the European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway, as the leader in the standings. After a second position in qualifying, the Vegter Pro Mod Racing ’67 Camaro was again the quickest car on the track during the eliminations and the Dutchman advanced to the semifinals. Leading the run and close to winning the European title, a connecting rod in the engine broke, causing the car to lose speed and Vegter was defeated and out of competition. Because his direct opponent in the championship did manage to reach the final, Vegter had to give up one position and finished the 2024 FIA European Championship as the runner-up.
With a number one qualifying position in three of the five FIA European Championship races, the quickest ET in the eliminations at all five races and a track record at the Rico Anthes Quartermile at Hockenheim, Vegter and the Vegter Pro Mod Racing ’67 Camaro were certainly doing really well with their speed, but a mechanical failure at the worst possible moment was the reason that the runner-up spot turned out to be the highest possible position.
“First of all, congratulations to Jere Rantaniemi with his title. We are proud of the speed we have shown throughout the season and at all tracks. Bad luck at the decisive moment is bitter, but it is also part of a mechanical sport. However, preparations for the 2025 season have already started. The Camaro has been dismantled and will be completely checked in the coming months. The engine block is already on its way to America and the necessary parts have been ordered. In fact, we are already looking forward to 2025,” said Vegter, who is fully motivated again after the disappointment immediately after the last race.
“Last but not least, we would like to thank our partners of this year, Red Line Synthetic Oil, Race Winning Brands Europe, Velocity Classics, Romias Robotics, HKR Techniek, LV Performance Racewear & Parts and Post & Dros for their support. Without them, such a season would not have been possible. And of course, let’s not forget our crew who always worked so hard to get the car race ready in time for the next run. Next season we will go for it again,” said Elin Lindegren, team member of Vegter Pro Mod Racing.
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Text and photos: Remco Scheelings
