Anita Mäkelä, Johan Lindberg, Timo Habermann, Jimmy Alund and Michael Gullqvist number one qualifiers at Scandinavian Internationals
Anita Mäkelä
With a stunning 3.878 seconds Anita Mäkelä reset the European Top Fuel record and stormed to the number one qualifying position at Tierp Arena in today’s qualifying for the Scandinavian Internationals. Jimmy Alund (Pro Stock) and Michael Gullqvist (Pro Modified) improved on their Friday performance and also stayed in the number one qualifying position. Timo Habermann and Johan Lindberg are the new leaders in Top Methanol Dragster and Top Methanol Funny Car and will lead their respective categories into Sunday eliminations for the Scandinavian Internationals, the fifth round of the FIA European Drag Racing Championship.
Like yesterday, perfect conditions at Tierp Arena at the final qualifying day for the Scandinavian Internationals. No less than six Top Fuel drivers and sixteen Pro Modified drivers reset their personals bests in qualifying.
Anita Mäkelä
Star of the day was of course Anita Mäkelä, who reset the European Top Fuel ET record in her second run of the day. In front of packed grandstands Mäkelä stormed to a stunning 3.878 seconds with 504 kmh and of course good for the number one qualifying position.
Duncan Micallef
Duncan Micallef surprised with a new personal best of 4.00 seconds to claim the number two qualifying position. Micke Kågered improved to 4.010 seconds, but will start tomorrow’s eliminations in the number three position. Liam Jones also reset his personal best to 4.09 seconds and is fourth.
Michael Gullqvist
In Pro Modified Michael Gullqvist improved to a stunning 5.84 seconds to keep the number one qualifying position. Niclas Andersson couldn’t improve on his Friday time, but the 5.93 seconds was enough to keep the number two spot.
Niclas Andersson
Mats Eriksson
A major improvement for Mats Eriksson as the leader in the championship stepped up to 5.96 seconds and ended qualifying in third position. With Bruno Bader (fourth) and Tero Laukkanen (fifth) also in the 5-second zone, no less than five drivers broke the 6-second barrier. Biggest surprise was Ake Persson who reset his personals best to 6.06 seconds and is sixth.
Jimmy Alund
Also an improvement for Jimmy Alund, the number one qualifier in Pro Stock. The multiple champion was the only driver in the top three to improve on his Friday performance with a great 6.54 seconds.
Thomas Lindström
Thomas Lindström and Alastaro winner Richard Sundblom stayed in the number two and three positions. Friday afternoon Michael Malmgren was still a non-qualifier but with a personal best of 6.61 seconds, Malmgren jumped into the number four position. With 6.758 seconds for number eight qualifier Jan Ericsson, Pro Stock has the quickest ever bump spot in Europe.
Timo and Dennis Habermann
A new leader in Top Methanol Dragster after today’s qualifying. Timo Habermann improved to 5.26 seconds and took over the number one spot from Friday leader and brother Dennis Habermann. Stefan Gunnarsson is the number three qualifier, and as the Swede is number eight qualifier in Top Fuel, he will have a busy elimination day.
Johan Lindberg
Johan Lindberg needed four runs to step up to his normal performance. In his last run the reigning champion stormed to 5.59 seconds and claimed the number one qualifying position. Friday leader Leif Andreasson improved to 5.74 seconds but will start eliminations in second position. Ari Pietilä reset his personal best twice and is the number three qualifier with 5.77 seconds.
Ari Pietilä
Eliminations for the Scandinavian Internationals at Tierp Arena will start tomorrow morning.
