Friday leaders Anita Mäkelä, Mats Eriksson, Jimmy Alund, Timo Habermann and Leif Andreasson stay number one qualifiers at Santa Pod European Finals

Anita Mäkelä

There were no changes in the number one qualifiers at the second day of qualifying for the European Finals at Santa Pod, the sixth and final round of the FIA European Drag Racing Championship. And so Anita Mäkelä (Top Fuel), Mats Eriksson (Pro Modified), Jimmy Alund (Pro Stock), Timo Habermann (Top Methanol Dragster) and Leif Andreasson (Top Methanol Funny Car) will lead their respective categories into Sunday eliminations. But behind the number one qualifiers, there were many changes in the positions after a great day of qualifying at Santa Pod Raceway. And as in Top Fuel and Pro Modified the outcome of the championship is still completely open, tomorrow eliminations will be even more exciting. 

A still cold, but dry and sometimes even sunny day was a guarantee for many improvements and changes in positions on the second day of qualifying for the European Finals, the final round of the FIA European Drag Racing Championship at Santa Pod Raceway.

Anita Mäkelä

In Top Fuel, Friday leader Anita Mäkelä improved to 4.010 seconds to stay in the number one position. But in the same run in the other lane championship leader Micke Kågered stormed to 4.025 seconds to jump into the number two qualifying position.

Micke Kågered

As the difference in the championship is less than 20 points between leader Kågered and number two Mäkelä, the decision in the championship can go down to the final run of eliminations. Liam Jones reset his personal best to 4.05 seconds and is number three qualifier, while Urs Erbacher will start eliminations from fourth position.

Liam Jones

Mats Eriksson

In Pro Modfied Friday leader Mats Eriksson improved to 5.929 seconds to reset his personal best and stay in the number one qualifying position. Bruno Bader was the second driver to break the 6-second barrier with 5.97 seconds and will start eliminations from second position.

Bruno Bader

Also a big improvement for Roger Johansson and with 6.04 seconds the Swede is the new number three. Michael Gullqvist, the leader in the championship before the European Finals, had to wait until the fourth and final run to step up to his normal performance. With 6.05 seconds Gullqvist jumped into the number four qualifying position, with Thomas Stiefel, Friday’s number three, in fifth. With the points he earned in qualifying, Eriksson is the new leader, but Gullqvist is very close behind.

Roger Johansson

Jimmy Alund

There was also an improvement for Jimmy Alund, the number one qualifier in Pro Stock. The multiple champion improved to 6.52 seconds. Michael Malmgren and Thomas Lindström, the number two and three qualifiers after day one, stayed in their positions, but with 6.61 and 6.63 seconds both drivers improved on their Friday performance.

Michael Malmgren

Leader in the championship is Lindström, but with his qualifying performance, Alund made up some points and still has a change to win the title.

Thomas Lindström

Timo and Dennis Habermann

In Top Methanol Dragster Friday leader Timo Habermann was the only top three driver to improve on his first day performance. The number two in the championship improved to 5.28 seconds. His brother, and championship leader Dennis Habermann, stayed in the number two position with Dave Wilson in third.

Leif Andreasson

There were no changes at all in Top Methanol Funny Car and so Leif Andreasson stayed in the number one qualifying position, with Stephanie Milam is second position. Top Methanol Funny Car is the only category where the championship is already decided with Andreasson as the 2015 FIA champion.

Eliminations for the European Finals at Santa Pod will start tomorrow morning.