Stig Neergaard, Johnny Oksa, Andreas Arthursson and Jimmy Ålund leaders after the first day of qualifying at Tierp Arena
Stig Neergaard raced to the provisional number one qualifying position in Top Fuel at the first day of qualifying for the Tierp Internationals, the second round of the FIA European Drag Racing Championship at Tierp Arena in Sweden. In Top Methanol Johnny Oksa stormed to a great 5.54 seconds to claim the provisional number one position. Andreas Arthursson is the leader in Pro Modified, while in Pro Stock Jimmy Ålund claimed the provisional number one qualifying position after two runs.
It was a difficult day for the teams at Tierp Arena. The tuners and crew chiefs had to deal with high temperatures, a very low percentage of oxygen in the air and an extremely hot track surface. As a result the elapsed times were not as good as seen before at the state-of-the-art drag racing facility north of Stockholm. But with room for improvements, the second day of qualifying will be even more exciting.
In Top Fuel all drivers improved their elapsed times on the second run. Stig Neergaard, from Denmark, recorded 4.08 seconds and took over the number one position.
Susanne Callin, from Sweden, claimed the provisional number two position with 4.19 seconds.
Ida Zetterström, from Åland, Finland, winner of the first round of the FIA European Championship at Santa Pod and European record holder, was on a good run, but suffered some problems and slowed down to 4.69 seconds, still good enough for the number three position. Reigning FIA European Top Fuel champion Antti Horto, from Finland, is the provisional number four qualifier.
In Top Methanol Johnny Oksa had a great second run. The former European champion from Finland recorded 5.54 seconds and claimed the provisional number one position.
Linn Fløysvik, winner of the first round of the championship at Santa Pod, recorded 5.64 seconds on her first run of the day and is in the number two position, with Tony Bryntesson third. Reigning champion Sandro Bellio had some problems and is fourth.
In Pro Modified David Vegter was the leader after the first run of qualifying. But late in the afternoon, when the temperatures dropped a bit, no fewer than four drivers recorded a quicker ET than the 6.05 seconds of the Dutch driver in round one. Andreas Arthursson is the provisional leader after two runs with 5.85 seconds.
Bruno Bader, who crashed at Santa Pod, surprised with a great 5.95 seconds to claim the provisional number two spot, with Michel Tooren (6.00 seconds) third and Roger Johansson (6.02 seconds) fourth.
Vegter finished day one in fifth position, with Marck Harteveld sixth.
Reigning champion Jan Ericsson had some serious problems, almost crashed and is in 14th position after day one.
In Pro Stock it was once again Jimmy Ålund who claimed the provisional number one position with a great 6.58 seconds.
Michael Malmgren improved on his second run of the day and is the number two qualifier with 6.65 seconds.
Robin Norén had a much better second run as well and is in the number three position with 6.69 seconds, with Stefan Ernryd fourth with 6.70 seconds.
Qualifying for the Tierp Internationals, round two of the FIA European Drag Racing Championship, continues on the Saturday.
Text and photos: Remco Scheelings
For all qualifying results: https://www.dragracing.eu/results.asp
For photos of the Tierp Internationals see the gallery on:https://www.dragracingeurope.eu/fiaedc/tierp-arena-sweden-june-15-18/
