Remco Scheelings
Åsa Kinnemar Chief Executive Officer for Speedgroup AB
Starting New Year with a brief communique from the Board of Speedgroup. Speedgroup Board of Directors has made the decision to promote Åsa Kinnemar as Chief Executive Officer for Speedgroup AB, effective January 1, 2016. Åsa is an asset to the company, has shown good leadership and communications skills. She has a solid background in drag racing and is familiar with and has a good understanding of the company and the business.
Commenting on the appointment, Chairman Pelle Lindelöw says:
“I am delighted to welcome Åsa Kinnemar as our CEO. She brings substantial experience in European and International drag racing, both from her own experiences in be part of running drag racing team for several years, as well as administrator of the series Speedgroup is handling and all sorts of “behind the scenes work”. We are looking forward to working with her to continue to build on the series and to strengthen drag racing in Europe.”
The Speedgroup Board will continue with the same composition as before, ie:
- Roger Lyrén – Marketing director, EDRS/EDRS Pro series
- Leif Andréasson – Marketing director, FIA relations
- Kjell Pettersson – Senior Advisor
- Mats Eriksson – Senior Technical Advisor for the Automotive Division
- Anders “Charley” Karling – Senior Technical Advisor for the Motorcycle Division
- Pelle Lindelöw – Chairman of the Board
Deputy board members: Dick Koster, Ulf Leanders, Mikael Kågered
Robin Norén makes his Pro Stock dreams come true
No thoughtless steps for Robin Norén, but a careful planning had to lead to the young Swedish driver’s ultimate goal, Pro Stock. After his first starts in Super Comp, he won the title in this 8.9-second index class in 2013. Competition Eliminator was his next step up the ladder, with a runner-up finish in the 2015 championship as a result. But now it’s time for the 24-year old Norén to make his dreams come true and step up to Pro Stock in 2016 with a Pontiac GTO. Continue reading
Thomas Stiefel saved his best for the last
After a very difficult start of his first season in Pro Modified, Thomas Stiefel had the European Finals he could only have dreamed of. The Swiss Pro Mod rookie couldn’t even make one run at the Main Event, but back at Santa Pod Raceway the beautiful orange Bel Air really took off. Stiefel reset his personal bests almost every run, was the number five qualifier and could only be stopped by European champion Michael Gullqvist in the quarter finals of eliminations. With this great performance the Swiss combination was the big surprise of the last race of the season. Continue reading
Malta added to the 2016 FIA European Drag Racing Championship
Last week the FIA World Motor Sport Council approved the addition of a new final round of the FIA European Drag Racing Championship on Malta on 30th September – 2nd October 2016.
FIA Drag Racing Commission Vice President Lars Pettersson about the new race: “I’m proud to announce a new country in the FIA European Drag Racing Championship in 2016. The working title for the event is the FIA Mediterranean European Finals. The event will take place on 30th September – 2nd October 2016. The great news was released at the third Mediterranean Tourism Forum Gala at the Mediterranean conference hall in Valetta. This is an opportunity to bring fans and families to the great island of Malta for the event and a sunny holiday. The track in Malta will undergo a major upgrade during the Spring of 2016 in safety, track surface and facilities. A joint venture is to be set up between Federations, Clubs and officials. The consortium is currently working on reducing the cost of transport and air fares for the race teams. Malta Hotel Restaurant Association (MHRA), QPM, Malta Tourist Association (MTA), Malta Motorsport Federation and the Maltese Government have made this project possible together with the FIA. More information will come after the New Year.”
Trophies for FIA champions at Speedgroup awards presentation
Saturday evening November 28, Speedgroup hosted its annual banquet and awards presentation at the Scandic Infra City, Upplands Väsby, Stockholm. Almost 500 racers, team members, sponsors and media attended the event and made it to a great success. For the first time the FIA European Drag Racing Championship prize giving ceremony was also included in the event, that also honored the top three racers of all classes in the EDRS Pro Nordic Motorcycle Championship and EDRS European Drag Racing Series. Also a number of special awards were presented to people and organizations for their contribution to the sport. Below the winners in the FIA European Drag Racing Championship and some special awards. Continue reading
Jari Halinen surprises, as Micke Kågered retains his title
Jari Halinen and Micke Kågered
Reigning champion Micke Kågered entered the European Finals as the leader in the FIA European Top Fuel Championship. But after a dominant win at Tierp and a strong Euro Finals qualifying, Anita Mäkelä was more and more the favourite to win the title in eliminations. Despite that, Kågered did it again, won the rounds he needed to win, and claimed his second consecutive FIA Top Fuel title. Jari Halinen played an unexpected, but major role in the outcome of the championship and race. The Finn didn’t qualify for eliminations, but could enter the race as alternate, to defeat Mäkelä in the first round and win the final from just crowned champion Kågered. Continue reading
Dennis Habermann doubles up with another win and the title
Dennis Habermann
It was game, set and match for Dennis Habermann at the European Finals. After winning the NitrOlympX and Scandinavian Internationals, a quarter final win at the last race of the season was already enough to secure the FIA European Top Methanol Dragster title, the first one for the young German, after his brother Timo won the championship in 2010. But the youngest son of team owner Werner Habermann took the title in style by winning his third consecutive race of the season, after defeating Jonny Lagg in the final. Continue reading
Title number five, but a special one for Leif Andreasson
Leif Andreasson and Stephanie Milam
With a runner-up position at the Scandinavian Internationals, and his closest rivals not attending the European Finals, Leif Andreasson was the only number one in the point standing who had a relaxed trip to Santa Pod, knowing the title was already his. But the Swede did what he had to do, made his runs and won the race. That the Disab sponsored driver only had to beat Stephanie Milam, who smashed her personal best at the Euro Finals was not something Andreasson was to blame for. Continue reading
The Finals were a real finale in Pro Modified
Mats Eriksson, Michael Gullqvist and Bruno Bader
The Finals were a thrill for everyone that participated, either as a racer, spectator or track crew. But it was a thrill everyone enjoyed somehow. There was a highlight on Saturday when Bruno Bader and Mats Eriksson ran the first side-by-side 5 second Pro Mod run ever at Santa Pod and Mats was the only driver to make every run in the 5’s straight from the trailer on Friday´s first round to the semifinal on Sunday. Continue reading
Class Review FIA European Finals – Pro Stock Car, The winner takes it all?
Thomas Lindström
Class Review FIA European Finals – Pro Stock Car, The winner takes it all?
Venue: Santa Pod, England
Dates: September 3rd – 6th 2015
The winner takes it all?
Every season plays out like a story for teams and classes. In some cases it is a tale of domination and supremacy from one team inflicting crushing defeat on the others. In most cases it is a tale of a hard fought battle between two or more teams to see who can gain the advantage. Pro Stock season 2015 has definitely been the latter. After a rain affected race in the first Sweden round, and then round one defeats in Alastaro and Tierp 2, Jimmy Ålund entered the contest at Santa Pod with a 46 point deficit to Thomas Lindström. To compound matters further, engine damage suffered in Q4 at Tierp meant Jimmy had to fly his spare engine in from the USA, where he currently sits fifteenth in the NHRA Mello Yello championship. The motor arrived to Santa Pod early in the week and Jimmy arrived on Wednesday to fit it into his race car. Jimmy knew he was going to need all the horsepower KB Racing could give him to retain his number one plate in Europe. The only way he could do this would be to qualify first in every round and take the event win, whilst hoping that Lindström hit some problems or got taken before the final. Continue reading
