Marck Harteveld winner at NitrOlympX and runner-up in the FIA European Championship
Marck Harteveld claimed the win at the renowned NitrOlympX at the Rico Anthes Quartermile of the HockenheimRing. With his victory in the third round of the FIA European Drag Racing Championship, the Voodoo Hemi Racing driver took over the number one spot in the Pro Modified championship standings from reigning champion Jere Rantaniemi. One week later, the Finn claimed his second consecutive title at the European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway, but with a quarterfinal finish, Harteveld secured the second position in the final FIA European Pro Modified Championship standings, his best finish so far. “Of course, you’re a bit disappointed when you’re so close to the title, but we at Voodoo Hemi Racing can look back on a great season,” said Harteveld.
After his impressive runner-up finish at Tierp Arena, Marck Harteveld started the final two rounds of the FIA European Drag Racing Championship with a one-point deficit to leader and reigning champion Jere Rantaniemi.
First up was the renowned NitrOlympX at the Rico Anthes Quartermile of the HockenheimRing at the end of August. With over 47,000 spectators, the 38th edition of the event set a new record. Qualifying didn’t go quite as Harteveld had hoped, as his Voodoo Hemi Racing ’70 Plymouth Superbird finished sixth in 6.02 seconds. With a personal best of 5.852 seconds, set at the previous race in Sweden, Harteveld knew there was more to come from the Superbird, thus Voodoo Hemi Racing were full of confidence about the eliminations. And they were right, as Harteveld not only ran quicker than in qualifying with a 5.89-second ET, he also outpaced his opponent, Norbert Kuno. In the quarterfinals, Harteveld faced fellow Dutchman Michel Tooren. However, because the Pro Dutch Racing driver suffered a problem during the burnout, Harteveld had a bye run into the semifinals where the always hard to beat Swiss driver Bruno Bader was his next opponent. In 5.99 seconds, Harteveld also defeated Bader and advanced to the final.
There, like in the final at Tierp Arena, the Voodoo Hemi Superbird had to face reigning champion Rantaniemi. The final then took a dramatic turn, with a positive outcome for Harteveld. Initially, it seemed that Rantaniemi was struggling after the burnout. However, the Finn still managed to come back to the start in time, after which both drivers waited a long time before going into ‘stage’. Because his engine was getting too hot, Harteveld was the first one to move forward, but then pulled a red light. The race seemed lost until Rantaniemi crossed the white line in the middle of the track during his run, which meant disqualification. Thus the victory was for Harteveld, and Voodoo Hemi Racing could not only collect the trophy for ‘best appearing team’, but more importantly, also the trophy for winning the NitrOlympX.
From Germany, Voodoo Hemi Racing almost immediately travelled to England for the European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway, the fourth and final round of the FIA European Championship. After winning in Hockenheim, Harteveld was the new leader in the FIA European Championship, 16 points ahead of Rantaniemi. The substantial gap to the other competitors already secured Harteveld a top-two finish in the final standings. The Voodoo Hemi Superbird struggled again to find the right speed in qualifying, and in the strong field, a solid 5.92 seconds handed Harteveld the seventh qualifying position, one spot behind Rantaniemi, who had finished sixth with 5.86 seconds. Because 20 points can be earned for each elimination round win, Harteveld needed to advance to the same round in the eliminations as Rantaniemi to clinch the title.
In the first elimination round, Harteveld had a bye run, and then had to face Andy Robinson in the quarterfinals. It was again difficult to get up to speed, and Harteveld’s 5.97 seconds wasn’t enough to beat Robinson’s 5.93 seconds. With Harteveld eliminated, the next run between David Vegter and Rantaniemi would decide whether the title would go to the Netherlands or Finland. At the, for him, most important moment of the weekend, Rantaniemi recorded his best run of the event with 5.83 seconds, beating Vegter (5.87 seconds), claiming back the lead in the points standings and his second consecutive FIA European Pro Modified Championship title. As icing on the cake the Finn claimed the win in the final of the European Finals as well. Harteveld finished the title race in second position, a more than excellent performance and his best finish so far.
“I can only congratulate Rantaniemi. With two wins and a runner-up position, he deserved the title. After the initial disappointment, I can only look back with satisfaction. We started the season with the idea of skipping the race at Tierp Arena and seeing how far we could get. After a good start at Santa Pod at the end of May, we were leading the championship and decided to go to Tierp anyway. There, we claimed the runner-up position in an extremely strong field. Then we won Hockenheim and took the lead again. At the Euro Finals, we just didn’t have the speed we had earlier in the season. We missed that 0.1 of a second. Of course, you’re disappointed when you’re so close to the title, but looking back at the season, we can only be proud. The first qualifying position and a place in the rained-out semifinals of the Main Event, runner-up at Tierp, a win at Hockenheim, a quarter-final at the European Finals, and runner-up in the FIA European Championship. It could hardly be better,” said a more than satisfied Harteveld, looking back on a successful 2025.
Voodoo Hemi Racing Partners
Voodoo Hemi Racing are supported by Six-Pack Speedshop, Altac Coating, M-Trex IJmuiden, VSoftware BV, Q. Dijkshoorn Transport, L. Harteveld Transport, FB Installaties, Olsthoorn Bedrijfsvoertuigen, Batist Hobbykassen, P. Komen Autoherstelwerk, Mike Pronk Bouw en Sloopwerken, Tom Otten Elektrotechniek, Sunder Scooters, L&G Harteveld, Sunproof, District 010, Quirien v. Vliet, vd Akker Transport and Coated Race Bearings.
Text and photos: Remco Scheelings
