Habermann brothers rule at their home track
In an all Habermann final Dennis defeated his brother Timo with a margin of only 0.004 seconds to take the win in Top Methanol Dragster at the 30th NitrOlympX. Despite the heat, the Werner Habermann Racing drivers were extremely fast in qualifying and eliminations and deserved the win with their family, so many sponsors and numerous fans in the grandstands. With his victory Dennis Habermann is also the new leader in the FIA European championship.
The 30th NitrOlympX was the fourth round of the FIA European Drag Racing Championship. With temperatures exceeding 39 degrees, conditions were difficult at the perfectly prepared Rico Anthes Quartermile. With three drivers Top Methanol Dragster was a bit low on entries, but the two Habermann brothers Dennis and Timo gave the home crowd enough to cheer about. When the Habermanns are there, you now it will go fast. For Jonny Lagg the difficult task to prevent an all Habermann domination.
Qualifying
As if temperatures were perfect for racing, Timo Habermann stormed to a stunning 5.38 seconds Saturday afternoon, even faster than his 5.42 seconds from Friday qualifying, which was already good enough to claim the number one qualifying position.
After suffering some traction problems on Friday, Dennis Habermann improved to 5.46 seconds and changed position with Jonny Lagg. The Swede couldn’t improve on his Friday 5.55 seconds and ended qualifying in third position.
Eliminations
Semi-final
As the number one qualifier Timo Habermann had a bye run in the semi-finals and with 5.444 seconds the German proved his great form again. In the other semi-final Lagg had the difficult task to beat Dennis and to prevent an all Habermann final. Although it was a close side-by-side race, Dennis had the better reaction time and with 5.52 against 5.60 seconds also the better ET and advanced to the final.
Final
Looking at the numbers, Timo was the favourite to win the final. In an extremely close race the two brothers made it a great final. Dennis was away first (0.002 seconds advantage) and with 5.438 to 5.440 seconds also 0.002 seconds faster in the run. And so Dennis Habermann took the win with a margin of only 0.004 seconds!
Championship
With his victory Dennis Habermann is also the new leader in the championship. Timo Habermann is second and only 26 points behind. Lagg is third, still only 37 point behind leader Dennis Habermann.
NitrOlympX statistics
Low ET: Timo Habermann, 5.383 seconds
Top speed: Timo Habermann, 425.75 km/h
Results
Link to final qualifying list:
http://fiaedc.edrspro.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/TMD_Q13_Nitrolympx2015.pdf
Link to elimination ladder
http://www.nitrolympx.de/sites/default/files/files/event-info/top_methanol_dragster.pdf
Link to championship points standing after the NitrOlympX
http://fiaedc.edrspro.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/FIA-DR-Championship-2015-points.pdf
For more photos see: FIA European Drag Racing Championship facebook
Text: Remco Scheelings
Photos: Remco Scheelings