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
Micke Kågered, Michael Gullqvist, Dennis Habermann, Leif Andreasson and Thomas Lindström clinch the 2015 FIA European Drag Racing Championship titles
Micke Kågered
The winners took it all in Pro Modified, Top Methanol Dragster and Top Methanol Funny Car at the European Finals at Santa Pod, as Michael Gullqvist, Dennis Habermann and Leif Andreasson not only won the event, but also the FIA European Drag Racing Championship title in their respective categories. In Top Fuel Jari Halinen was the surprising winner of the event, but the title stayed with last years champion Micke Kågered. In Pro Stock Jimmy Alund defeated Thomas Lindström in the final, but with a semi-final win against Michael Malmgren, Lindström had already clinched the 2015 FIA European championship title. With the European Finals, the 2015 FIA European Drag Racing Championship came to an exciting end. Continue reading
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. Continue reading
Anita Mäkelä, Mats Eriksson, Jimmy Alund, Timo Habermann and Leif Andreasson provisional leaders at Santa Pod European Finals
Anita Mäkelä
With a great 4.01 seconds Anita Mäkelä stormed to the number one qualifying position in Top Fuel at the first day of qualifying for the European Finals, the sixth and final race of the FIA European Drag Racing Championship. In Pro Modified Mats Eriksson leads the field and in Pro Stock reigning champion Jimmy Alund is the provisional leader. In Top Methanol Dragster and Top Methanol Funny Car Timo Habermann and Leif Andreasson are the leaders after day one at Santa Pod Raceway. Continue reading
The European Finals, it’s decision time at Santa Pod
Santa Pod Raceway
The 2015 FIA European Drag Racing Championship is reaching its climax with the European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway. In the sixth and last round of Europe’s most prestigious drag racing championship, five titles will have to be decided, and there is no second chance. In two of the five categories the championship can go down to the wire, in two other classes there is a clear favourite, and in only one category the name of new European champion is already known. Continue reading
Anita Mäkelä shines with victory and European record at Tierp Arena
Anita Mäkelä
Anita Mäkelä was in a class of her own in Top Fuel at the Scandinavian Internationals at Tierp Arena. In her Dom Lagana, Sami Lehtimäki and Tommi Haapanen tuned car, Mäkelä not only drove to victory, the Finnish fan favourite reset the European elapsed time record to a stunning 3.878 seconds, made six (!) consecutive 3 second passes and closed the gap to championship leader Micke Kågered to eighteen points! But Mäkelä was not the only one in the spot light, as more Top Fuel drivers had their best ever race at Tierp Arena. Continue reading
Johan Lindberg bids farewell to his title with a win at the Scandinavian Internationals
Johan (and Jonnie) Lindberg
Johan Lindberg drove to victory at the Scandinavian Internationals at Tierp Arena. With his win, the 2014 FIA European Top Methanol Funny Car champion bid farewell to his title in style, as Lindberg will not take part in the last race of the season, and so Tierp Arena runner-up and championship leader Leif Andreasson can no longer be caught. Continue reading
New European record for Timo Habermann, but Dennis Habermann wins at Tierp Arena
Timo and Dennis Habermann
As at Hockenheim two weeks earlier, it was another all Habermann party in Top Methanol Dragster at the Scandinavian Internationals, and again it was Dennis Habermann who defeated his brother Timo in the final, to take his second consecutive win and extend his lead in the FIA European Championship. But still, Timo Habermann also had his moment of glory, as the young German reset his own European elapsed time record to a stunning 5.210 seconds! Continue reading
