2010 King of Nitro - Urs Erbacher 

Top Fuel promises one of its best seasons ever, if not the best. The Main Event, the opening round of the FIA European Championship, has eleven entrants; all are capable of winning the race and at least seven or eight have a fair chance of winning the title. Favourite, of course, is Urs Erbacher, the reigning champion. The Swiss has already raced in the Middle East this season and won Santa Pod’s Easter Thunderball, so he will start the new championship fight in good form. Risto Poutiainen was Erbacher’s toughest challenger last season and, with just the Euro Finals to go, the Finn was less than 20 points behind. The car Poutiainen crashed at Alastaro last year is back in racing condition and could make the difference between the number two spot in 2010 and the title in 2011. Another title challenger is Anita Mäkelä. After a difficult start to the 2010 season, the ever-smiling Finnish lady recovered in a great way by running fast numbers and showing consistency. This winter the team bought new parts from Snake Racing in the States and aim to run faster than they have ever run before. The team tested their combination at the Easter meeting but encountered one or two problems. If they can now run trouble-free for the rest of the season, Mäkelä can go for the title.


Andy Carter has an impressive list of merits and is alway aiming for events and championship titles 

After last season’s European Finals, Andy Carter and Andersen Racing decided to end their successful cooperation. As a result, there are two new and very interesting combinations in the 2011 FIA Top Fuel Championship. A few weeks later, Carter announced he would be the driver of a brand new team in Top Fuel racing, Team West-Tec. The team has a great track record in Formula Ford, Formula 3 and other forms of circuit racing but no experience in drag racing. It’s great for drag racing to have a team from circuit racing enter the quarter-mile sport. The crew will be led by Ben Allum and Eddie Corr and it will be interesting to see how the new team will do in drag racing. The team began testing two weeks before The Main Event which will be their first competitive outing.


Dutch driver and team operator Lex Joon (right) and Poynter, who tunes for Joon will be at Santa Pod

Urs Erbacher

Lacking a driver, it looked as though Andersen Racing might have to park their operation for 2011. Then, a few weeks ago, Per and Karsten Andersen made headlines with the announcement of American star Tommy Johnson Jr. as their 2011 driver. Johnson is a very experienced Top Fuel and Funny Car driver and a proven winner, and because the same can be said about the Andersen Top Fueler, we have yet another title favourite. For European drag racing it’s great to have Johnson in the show because it will attract plenty of extra media attention from the States.

Stig Neergaard will field a two-car team again this season. The Dane did not have the best of seasons in 2010 with a crash in Finland and bad luck in other races. For sure he will do better this season. Driving the team’s second car is an interesting rookie: Stig’s son Kenni. Of course it will take a while for this youngster to get used to 8,000 bhp but he has a teacher at home and could be a champion for the future. Another one who wants to improve on his 2010 performance is Micke Kågered. The experienced Swede has already made test runs at Tierp Arena and wants to be a frontrunner once more.


Halinen was in Hungary in April for exhibition at the UEM drag bike championship round

The second Rune Fjeld Motorsport car will again be driven by Jari Halinen. The Finn had a good second half of the 2010 season, clocking personal bests and 4-second runs. Halinen can win races this season. Timo Lehtimäki did so last season with his stunning performance at Alastaro. There, he proved both fast and consistent. Thanks to additional sponsorship, the Finn competes at The Main Event too and will try to win his second FIA Top Fuel race.


Jari Halinen from Finland in action

Last but not least on The Main Event entry list is Lex Joon. The Flying Dutchman brought back his car from the States but until only a few days ago it seemed likely the 2005 European Top Fuel Champion would not make it to England owing to lack of funding to prepare the car to the standard he requires. But in a last minute deal, help from MPM, MPM Oil UK and other sponsors Tuesday May 17 Joon could bring the great news it was 100% sure he would be at The Main Event. The team will have to work around the clock to make the MPM Top Fueler race ready. Kevin Poynter from the States is the crewchief and the crew is from Holland and America. There is no time left to test the combination so qualifying round number one is the first pass for Joon. But with Joon’s and Poynter’s experience and perseverance in mind don’t be surprised the car will fly. It’s not the first time Joon wins races after a hectic period in preparation.

Not on the Main Event entry list and not running the full FIA tour are last year’s European Finals runner-up, Janne Ahonen, Jöran Persåker, Monika Öberg, Antti Horto and Björn Mårtensson. These drivers are running limited schedules and are expected to appear later this season at selected races. But don’t be surprised to see other new names enter the Formula 1 of drag racing in 2011.