Anita Mäkelä, Leif Andreasson, Dennis Habermann, Jimmy Alund and Michael Gullqvist provisional leaders at super fast Tierp Arena
Anita Mäkelä
With a great 3.99 seconds Anita Mäkelä stormed to the number one qualifying position in Top Fuel at the first day of qualifying for the Scandinavian Internationals, the fifth race of the FIA European Drag Racing Championship. In Pro Modified Micke Gullqvist leads the now 22-car field and in Pro Stock reigning champion Jimmy Alund is the provisional leader. In Top Methanol Dragster and Top Methanol Funny Car Dennis Habermann and Leif Andreasson are the leaders after day one. With 418.60 kmh Tero Laukkanen reset the Pro Modified European speed record at Tierp Arena.
Sunny weather, good air and a prefect track made it possible for the drivers and crew chiefs to step up to their performance, and so many personal bests were reset at the first day of qualifying for the Scandinavian Internationals, race five of the FIA European Drag Racing Championship at the state-of-the-art Tierp Arena track.
Anita Mäkelä
Stig Neergaard was the leader in Top Fuel after the first session. But in the second qualifying it was championship leader Micke Kågered who stormed to a great 4.01 seconds to take over the lead.
Micke Kågered
But is was not for long, as in the next run is was Anita Mäkelä with a stunning 3.99 seconds to break the 4-second barrier and jump into the number one position. Liam Jones improved to 4.12 seconds and also passed Neergaard. The Dane ended day one as the number four qualifier.
Micke Gullqvist
In Pro Modified Micke Gullqvist stormed to 5.88 seconds in his second run, a bit faster than Niclas Andersson who reset his personal best with 5.93 seconds. Number three after day one is Bruno Bader, with championship leader Mats Eriksson in fifth position.
Tero Laukkanen
But star of the day was Tero Laukkanen from Finland. With 418.60 kmh Laukkanen reset the European speed record and his 6.02 seconds elapsed time was good enough for the number four qualifying position.
Jimmy Alund
In Pro Stock Jimmy Alund needed his second run to jump into the provisional number one qualifying position with 6.55 seconds. Thomas Lindström is second with a great 6.57 seconds and Alastaro winner Richard Sundblom third (6.58).
Thomas Lindström
Timo Habermann
In Top Methanol Dragster Timo Habermann was the leader after the first run with a great 5.29 seconds. But in the second session his brother Dennis reset his personal best to 5.28 seconds to take over the provisional number one qualifying position. Stefan Gunnarsson is number three after day one.
Leif Andreasson
In Top Methanol Funny Car Leif Andreasson was fastest in his second run with 5.78 seconds. A surprising Ari Pietilä is second and Johnny Oksa third. Problems for Johan Lindberg as the reigning champion couldn’t make a good run and ended day one in fourth position with 6.55 seconds.
Qualifying for the Scandinavian Internationals continues Saturday morning.
