Flying start for Vegter Pro Mod Racing at Santa Pod Raceway

David Vegter and his team Vegter Pro Mod Racing immediately showed their speed again at the start of the new drag racing season. At Santa Pod Raceway, the ’67 Camaro recorded a 5.8-second ET on the first test runs, to reach the semi-finals with the quickest runs of the weekend and a second qualifying position a week later at the opening round of the FIA European Championship. Unfortunately, the speed could not be converted into a victory because rain brought an early end to the race.

The Doorslammers at Santa Pod Raceway kicked off the season for David Vegter and his team Vegter Pro Mod Racing. This standalone race was mainly seen by the team as a test for The Main Event, the opening round of the FIA European Drag Racing Championship, to be held at the same track a week later. This highly regarded championship, in which Vegter finished in the runner-up position in the past two years, is the main goal for the Dutch team. On the first full pass of the season, a 5.94-second ET showed up on the scoreboard, followed by a 5.85 seconds. The next day the Vegter Pro Mod Racing ’67 Camaro improved to two 5.84-second ETs on both runs. After all the adjustments and many hours of hard work to let all the components work together, paid off as the ETs were immediately impressive.

A week later it was time for The Main Event. With sixteen participants from eight different European countries, there was a competitive field in the Pro Modified class at the start of the opening round of the FIA European Championship. On the first day of qualifying Vegter immediately claimed the first position with 5.876 seconds. Because one driver was a bit quicker on day two, Vegter finished qualifying in second position.

In the eliminations, it went a bit quicker and faster. In the first round of eliminations, Vegter’s 5.80 seconds was too quick for Jon Webster, and in the quarter finals Vegter defeated reigning European Pro Modified champion Jere Rantaniemi in 5.81 seconds. With these ETs, Vegter was the quickest driver in both rounds of eliminations and the Vegter Pro Mod Racing ’67 Camaro advanced to the semi-finals. Unfortunately, the promising start of the race could not be converted into a race win as the English weather spoiled the remainder of the race day. Before the Pro Modified class could be called to the lanes for the semi-finals, it started to rain and because the forecast was bad as well, the race director was left no other choice then to cancel the remaining elimination rounds. It is clear that Vegter and his team will once again claim a leading role in the FIA European Pro Modified Championship this year. In the intermediate championship standings, Vegter is in second position, only two points short of the leader.

As the FIA European Championship will not resume until the second weekend of August, Vegter Pro Mod Racing will also take part in several races of the Motorsport UK Pro Modified Championship. The next race for this title fight is the Summer Nationals, which will be held at Santa Pod Raceway from 4 to 6 July. With European top drivers such as Estonian Andres Arnover, Dutchman Michel Tooren and Andy Robinson from the UK, there will also be a competitive field in that championship as well. A delegation from Race Winning Brands Europe will also be present at this race. The company, based in Nieuw-Vennep, is one of the most important partners of Vegter Pro Mod Racing. The guests will get a close look at all the pre-race preparations in the pits and of course enjoy the action at the Santa Pod track.

Calendar 2025 Vegter Pro Mod Racing
July 4-6, Summer Nationals, Santa Pod Raceway, Motorsport UK
July 25-27, Bug Jam, Santa Pod Raceway, Motorsport UK
August 7-10, Tierp Arena, Sweden, FIA European Championship
August 29-31, NitrOlympX, HockenheimRing, Germany, FIA European Championship
September 4-7, European Finals, Santa Pod Raceway, FIA EK and Motorsport UK
September 19-21, National Finals, Santa Pod Raceway, Motorsport UK

Partners of Vegter Pro Mod Racing are: Race Winning Brands Europe, Red Line Synthetic Oil, Velocity Classics, LV Performance Racewear & Parts, FuelTech, Noonan and Post & Dros Racing Engines & Parts.

Follow Vegter Pro Mod Racing on Instagram at vegterpromodracing and Facebook: Vegter Pro Mod Racing

Text and photos: Remco Scheelings