Jndia Erbacher, Silvio Strauch, Marck Harteveld and Jimmy Ålund winners at NitrOlympX
Jndia Erbacher raced to victory in the Top Fuel final of the NitrOlympX, round three of the FIA European Drag Racing Championship at the Rico Anthes Quartermile of the HockenheimRIng by defeating Liam Jones. In Pro Modified Marck Harteveld claimed the win in a dramatic final over Jere Rantaniemi. In the Top Methanol final Silvio Strauch gave the home crowd plenty to cheer for by claiming his first ever Top Methanol win by defeating Sandro Bellio. In Pro Stock Jimmy Ålund got his revenge over the lost final at Tierp by defeating Robin Norén.
It was a great day of racing for the drag race fans in the grandstands of the Motodrome, with many spectacular and close runs and major upsets in almost all classes at the NitrOlympX, round three of the FIA European Drag Racing Championship at the Rico Anthes Quartermile of the HockenheimRing in Germany.
In Top Fuel the semifinals were two bye runs. As there were three competitors, the number one qualifiers, Jndia Erbacher, had a bye run into the final.
In the other semifinal Liam Jones had a bye run as well, because the damage after the engine explosion in qualifying to Susanne Callin’s RF Motorsport Top Fuel dragster couldn’t be repaired at the track, thus the championship leader before Hockenheim had to withdraw from eliminations.
In the final Erbacher, who is the reigning European and NitrOlympX champion, claimed the win over Jones in 4.20 seconds, while Jones recorded 4.34 seconds. Jones is now the new leader in the championship with one race to go.
In Top Methanol there was a major upset in the first round of eliminations as number two qualifier Tony Bryntesson pulled a red light, handing the win to number five qualifier Sandro Bellio.
In the semifinals there was another major upset as number one qualifier and championship leader Jonnie Lagg had traction problem and saw Silvio Strauch, who had defeated his countryman Jürgen Nagel in the first round, take the win light and advance to the final. In the final Strauch had to face Bellio, who had a bye run in the semifinals
Although Bellio was the favourite, Strauch gave the home crowd plenty to cheer for by claiming the win in 5.49 seconds, his quickest run of the weekend, over 5.67 seconds for Bellio. Bellio is the new leader in the championship, with four drivers close behind.
In Pro Modified there were major upsets in almost every round of eliminations. It started with number one qualifier David Vegter. The Dutchman had problems to fire up his Camaro, handing the win to number fourteen qualifier Kim Kristiansen, who had a bye run into the semifinals.
In the quarter finals number three qualifier, Michel Tooren, from the Netherlands as well, was the next victim of mechanical problems when his converter exploded in the burn out, handing the win to Marck Harteveld, the number six qualifier. Mats Eriksson, the number two qualifier, also suffered problems and was defeated by Bruno Bader in the quarter finals.
After defeating Andres Arnover in the quarter finals, Jere Rantaniemi, the championship leader before Hockenheim, had to face Kristiansen in the semifinals. But the Dane pulled a red light handing the win to Rantaniemi.
In the other semifinal Harteveld defeated Bader and advanced to the final as well. Thus the final was a rematch from Tierp were Rantaniemi claimed the win.
In a dramatic final Harteveld pulled a red light. The win would have gone to Rantaniemi, but the Fin crossed the center line on his run and according the rules, was disqualified. Thus Harteveld was the winner, got his revenge for Tierp and is the new leader in the championship.
In Pro Stock the numbers one and two from qualifying and the whole season, Jimmy Ålund and Robin Norén, advanced to the final. Ålund had a bye run in the first round to defeat Simon Ekengren in the semifinals with a great 6.66 seconds.
Norén was too quick for Henry Riehl in the first round and saw Michael Malmgren run into problems in the semifinals. Thus, like in Pro Mod, the NitrOlympX final was a rematch of the final at Tierp Arena three weeks ago.
At Tierp Norén claimed the win and the lead in the championship, but this time it was Ålund who claimed the win in 6.62 seconds over 6.71 seconds for Norén. Ålund is now also the new leader in the championship.
The fourth and final round of the FIA European Drag Racing Championship is next week’s European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway in England.
For all results:
https://www.tw-sportsoft.de/NitrolympX_2025_403250/TW_ON_Virtueller_Aushang.php?AUSWAHL_AUSHANG_ART_ID=6
Championship standings:
Text and photo: Remco Scheelings
