{"id":7678,"date":"2016-09-09T22:42:53","date_gmt":"2016-09-09T21:42:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/fiaedc\/?p=7678"},"modified":"2016-09-09T22:42:55","modified_gmt":"2016-09-09T21:42:55","slug":"liam-jones-michael-gullqvist-jimmy-alund-and-timo-habermann-leaders-after-friday-qualifying-for-the-european-finals-at-santa-pod","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/fiaedc\/2016\/09\/09\/liam-jones-michael-gullqvist-jimmy-alund-and-timo-habermann-leaders-after-friday-qualifying-for-the-european-finals-at-santa-pod\/","title":{"rendered":"Liam Jones, Michael Gullqvist, Jimmy \u00c5lund and Timo Habermann leaders after Friday qualifying for the European Finals at Santa Pod"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"attachment_3123\" style=\"width: 550px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/fiaedc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/09\/jones_ef_q1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3123\" class=\"wp-image-7699 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/jones_ef_q1.jpg\" alt=\"jones_ef_q1\" width=\"540\" height=\"360\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/fiaedc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/09\/jones_ef_q1.jpg 540w, https:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/fiaedc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/09\/jones_ef_q1-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 540px) 100vw, 540px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-3123\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Liam Jones<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>Liam Jones stormed to the number one qualifying position in Top Fuel with a new personal best of 3.98 seconds at the first day of qualifying for the European Finals, the sixth and final round of the FIA European Drag Racing Championship. In Pro Modified and Pro Stock championship leaders Michael Gullqvist and Jimmy \u00c5lund lead the field, while in Top Methanol Dragster Timo Habermann was quickest at Santa Pod Raceway.<\/strong><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>Good weather and great track conditions at the first day of qualifying for the European Finals, the sixth and final round of the FIA European Drag Racing Championship at Santa Pod Raceway. In Top Fuel, where Anita M\u00e4kel\u00e4 and Stig Neergaard, and in Pro Modified, where Michael Gullqvist, Bruno Bader and Mats Eriksson are separated by only a few points, the outcome of the championship is still completely open and qualifying is extremely important.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_3112\" style=\"width: 550px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/fiaedc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/09\/jonescrew_ef_q1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3112\" class=\"wp-image-7705 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/jonescrew_ef_q1.jpg\" alt=\"jonescrew_ef_q1\" width=\"540\" height=\"366\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/fiaedc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/09\/jonescrew_ef_q1.jpg 540w, https:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/fiaedc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/09\/jonescrew_ef_q1-300x203.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 540px) 100vw, 540px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-3112\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Liam Jones crew<\/p><\/div>\n<p>After a season with ups and downs, Liam Jones wanted to end the season on a high. The British driver did that at his home track and recorded 3.98 seconds at 306.91 mph, a new personal best and his first ever 3 second run.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_3116\" style=\"width: 550px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/fiaedc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/09\/neergaard_ef_q1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3116\" class=\"wp-image-7702 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/neergaard_ef_q1.jpg\" alt=\"neergaard_ef_q1\" width=\"540\" height=\"352\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/fiaedc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/09\/neergaard_ef_q1.jpg 540w, https:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/fiaedc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/09\/neergaard_ef_q1-300x196.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 540px) 100vw, 540px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-3116\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Stig Neergaard<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Stig Neergaard, the current number two in the championship, is second after day one, as the Dane recorded 4.08 seconds. Michael K\u00e5gered, the 2015 FIA European Top Fuel champion is third with 4.15 seconds. Anita M\u00e4kel\u00e4 had a far from trouble free Friday qualifying and is fourth with 4.54 seconds.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_3115\" style=\"width: 550px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/fiaedc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2015\/12\/makela_ef_q1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3115\" class=\"wp-image-4199 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/makela_ef_q1.jpg\" alt=\"makela_ef_q1\" width=\"540\" height=\"360\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-3115\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Anita M\u00e4kel\u00e4<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_3120\" style=\"width: 550px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/fiaedc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/09\/gullqvist_ef_q1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3120\" class=\"wp-image-7700 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/gullqvist_ef_q1.jpg\" alt=\"gullqvist_ef_q1\" width=\"540\" height=\"340\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/fiaedc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/09\/gullqvist_ef_q1.jpg 540w, https:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/fiaedc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/09\/gullqvist_ef_q1-300x189.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 540px) 100vw, 540px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-3120\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Michael Gullqvist<\/p><\/div>\n<p>In Pro Modified, Michael Gullqvist was in a class of his own as he was the only driver to make a 5.9 second pass. With 5.91 seconds the Swedish championship leader stormed to the number one qualifying position.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_3113\" style=\"width: 550px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/fiaedc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/09\/lindberg_ef_q1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3113\" class=\"wp-image-7704 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/lindberg_ef_q1.jpg\" alt=\"lindberg_ef_q1\" width=\"540\" height=\"341\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/fiaedc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/09\/lindberg_ef_q1.jpg 540w, https:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/fiaedc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/09\/lindberg_ef_q1-300x189.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 540px) 100vw, 540px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-3113\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Johan Lindberg<\/p><\/div>\n<p>In his second run Johan Lindberg recorded 6.00 seconds and jumped into the provisional second qualifying position. Mats Eriksson, the number three in the championship is also third after two qualifying runs with 6.05 seconds, while Bruno Bader, the number two in the championship, is close behind in fourth with 6.06 seconds.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_3119\" style=\"width: 550px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/fiaedc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/09\/erkisson_ef_q1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3119\" class=\"wp-image-7701 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/erkisson_ef_q1.jpg\" alt=\"erkisson_ef_q1\" width=\"540\" height=\"347\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/fiaedc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/09\/erkisson_ef_q1.jpg 540w, https:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/fiaedc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/09\/erkisson_ef_q1-300x193.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 540px) 100vw, 540px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-3119\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mats Eriksson<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Local hero Andy Robinson is fifth qualifier with 6.13 seconds and Hockenheim runner-up Marck Harteveld surprised once again with a sixth qualifying position and an elapsed time of 6.18 seconds. With all 17 drivers under 6.9 seconds, the Pro Modified field is extremely close again.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_3118\" style=\"width: 550px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/fiaedc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2015\/12\/bader_ef_q1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3118\" class=\"wp-image-3940 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/bader_ef_q1.jpg\" alt=\"bader_ef_q1\" width=\"540\" height=\"348\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-3118\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bruno Bader<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_3117\" style=\"width: 550px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/fiaedc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2015\/12\/alund_ef_q1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3117\" class=\"wp-image-3916 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/alund_ef_q1.jpg\" alt=\"alund_ef_q1\" width=\"540\" height=\"360\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-3117\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jimmy \u00c5lund<\/p><\/div>\n<p>In Pro Stock, Jimmy \u00c5lund, the leader in the championship, is the number one qualifier after day one at Santa Pod with 6.612 seconds. But the difference between the number one and two in the championship, and the number one and two at Santa Pod, couldn\u2019t have been any closer as Bengt Ljungdahl was only 0.001 seconds behind with 6.613 seconds. Magnus Petersson is third and Stefan Ernryd fourth.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_3114\" style=\"width: 550px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/fiaedc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/09\/ljungdahl_ef_q1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3114\" class=\"wp-image-7703 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/ljungdahl_ef_q1.jpg\" alt=\"ljungdahl_ef_q1\" width=\"540\" height=\"351\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/fiaedc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/09\/ljungdahl_ef_q1.jpg 540w, https:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/fiaedc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/09\/ljungdahl_ef_q1-300x195.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 540px) 100vw, 540px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-3114\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bengt Ljungdahl<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_3122\" style=\"width: 550px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/fiaedc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2015\/12\/habermann_t_ef_q1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3122\" class=\"wp-image-3998 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/habermann_t_ef_q1.jpg\" alt=\"habermann_t_ef_q1\" width=\"540\" height=\"346\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-3122\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Timo Habermann<\/p><\/div>\n<p>In Top Methanol Dragster Timo Habermann is leading with a great 5.33 seconds, with his brother Dennis Habermann in second position (5.43 seconds). Jonny Lagg, the 2016 FIA European Top Methanol Dragster champion is third with 5.59 seconds and local hero Dave Wilson is fourth with 5.60 seconds.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_3121\" style=\"width: 550px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/fiaedc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2015\/12\/habermann_d_ef_q1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3121\" class=\"wp-image-3986 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/habermann_d_ef_q1.jpg\" alt=\"habermann_d_ef_q1\" width=\"540\" height=\"334\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-3121\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dennis Habermann<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Qualifying for the European Finals continues Saturday morning with two more runs.<\/p>\n<p>Link to the results:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.santapod.co.uk\/track\/Results\/2016\/FIA%20European%20Finals%202016\/\">http:\/\/www.santapod.co.uk\/track\/Results\/2016\/FIA%20European%20Finals%202016\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p>More photos from Friday qualifying can be found at: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/fiaedc\/santa-pod-fia-european-finals-2016\/\">http:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/fiaedc\/santa-pod-fia-european-finals-2016\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p>For pitnotes see eurodragster.com: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.eurodragstereventcoverage.com\/santapod\/live\/2016fiaeuropeanfinals\/pitnotes\/friday.asp\">http:\/\/www.eurodragstereventcoverage.com\/santapod\/live\/2016fiaeuropeanfinals\/pitnotes\/friday.asp<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Liam Jones stormed to the number one qualifying position in Top Fuel with a new personal best of 3.98 seconds at the first day of qualifying for the European Finals, the sixth and final round of the FIA European Drag Racing Championship. In Pro Modified and Pro Stock championship leaders Michael Gullqvist and Jimmy \u00c5lund [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/fiaedc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7678"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/fiaedc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/fiaedc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/fiaedc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/fiaedc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7678"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/fiaedc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7678\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7706,"href":"https:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/fiaedc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7678\/revisions\/7706"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/fiaedc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7678"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/fiaedc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7678"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dragracingeurope.eu\/fiaedc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7678"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}