Susanne Callin, Sandro Bellio, Marck Harteveld and Robin Norén number one qualifiers at The Main Event
Susanne Callin (Top Fuel), Sandro Bellio (Top Methanol), Marck Harteveld (Pro Modified) and Robin Norén (Pro Stock) improved on their Saturday performance to claim the number one positions in Sunday qualifying for The Main Event, round one of the FIA European Drag Racing Championship. These four drivers will lead their respective categories into Monday’s eliminations at Santa Pod Raceway. Looking at the qualifying lists, it will be an exciting and action packed bank holiday Monday at Santa Pod.
Rain and difficult condition hampered Saturday qualifying for The Main Event, round one of the 2025 FIA European Drag Racing Championship at Santa Pod Raceway. But on Sunday the ETs dropped dramatically and the thousands of spectators saw exciting runs and many changes in the qualifying order.
After a difficult first day of qualifying, where only two drivers recorded ETs, the Top Fuelers came to life on Sunday. On her first run of the Sunday Susanne Callin stormed to a great 3.90 seconds to claim the number one qualifying position.
In the same qualifying session home favourite Liam Jones recorded 3.99 seconds to finish qualifying in second position..
Dennis Nilsson, like Callin also from Sweden, improved on his Saturday performance, but dropped from the first into the third position. Jndia Erbacher, the reigning FIA European Top Fuel champion from Switzerland, suffered traction problems on all her four runs and finished qualifying in fourth position with 4.68 seconds. Erbacher will have to face Callin in the first round of eliminations tomorrow.
In Top Methanol Tony Bryntesson (Sweden) was the leader after the first day of qualifying with a great 5.31 seconds. After suffering severe engine problems on Saturday, Sandro Bellio bounced back to claim the number one qualifying position on Sunday.
Reigning FIA European champion Jonny Lagg couldn’t improve on his earlier performance and finished qualifying in third position with 5.39 seconds. In his new dragster Silvio Strauch (Germany) claimed the number four position with 5.64 seconds, with rookie Tina Høst Nedregård fifth.
In Pro Modified David Vegter was the number one qualifier after day one with a great 5.876 seconds, with Mats Eriksson (5.91 seconds) in second position. But on day two there were so many improvements, that the qualifying order changed dramatically. On his first run of the day Marck Harteveld stormed to a great 5.871 seconds, close to his personal best and enough to claim the number one qualifying position.
Vegter, last year’s runner-up in the FIA European Pro Modified Championship, was not able to improve his ET and finished qualifying in second position. Michel Tooren, yesterday’s number 16, stormed to a great 5.88 seconds to finish qualifying in third position. This makes it an all Dutch top three in Pro Mod!
Andres Arnover was also back to form and recorded 5.90 seconds, good enough to claim the number four position, with Eriksson fifth. Reigning FIA European champion Jere Rantaniemi had several problems and is in seventh position. With eight drivers in the 5-second zone, and a 16-car field, eliminations will be exciting.
In Pro Stock there was a major surprise as Robin Norén stormed to a great 6.61 seconds to claim the number one qualifying position. It is a long time ago that Jimmy Ålund didn’t finish qualifying in the number one spot.
The multiple champion and Saturday leader improved to 6.62 seconds, but even that was not enough to beat Norén. Stefan Ernryd is the number three qualifier (6.70 seconds), with Michael Malmgren fourth (6.71 seconds) and Lasse Britsmar fifth.
Eliminations for The Main Event at Santa Pod Raceway will start tomorrow morning, Monday May 26.
More photos from The Main Event can be found at: https://www.dragracingeurope.eu/fiaedc/25-26-may-santa-pod/
For all Main Event results: https://santapodresults.com/2025/Main%20Event
Text and photos: Remco Scheelings
