As a real professional, Tommy Johnson Jr. took just one run to get used to the Andersen Racing Top Fueler. In his first qualifying attempt, the American was on his way to a 4-second ET when a few cylinders went out and the blower belt came off. Still the 5.03 seconds was good enough for the temporary number two qualifying position. But on its third run on Sunday, the Andersen Racing Top Fueler showed the same form as it had at the European Finals last season. Johnson Jr. went through the lights in 4.66 seconds, only 0.09 of a second slower than Andy Carter’s European record in the same car last year. And the speed? 317.06mph! With this run Johnson Jr. was number one qualifier and, because eliminations were cancelled, he therefore leads the FIA European Championship.


Risto Poutiainen

Another one to impress was Risto Poutiainen. With a series of 4.83, 4.82 and 4.70 seconds, the Finn was the only one to break the 5-second barrier on all his runs. But the speed of the Rune Fjeld-tuned car was impressive too. The 315mph from the third run was the back up for the 317.06mph/510.26kph new European speed record in run four. Driving the rebuilt car he crashed at Alastaro last year, Poutiainen is one of the title favourites. The number three qualifying position went to Urs Erbacher. A 5.19 in round number one was followed by a great 4.72 seconds at only 284mph in round number two. The reigning FIA European Top Fuel champion hurt some parts and did not go out on Sunday to defend his Saturday number one qualifying position.

Anita Mäkelä and Tommi Haapanen

Number nine qualifier after day one, and out of eliminations at that moment, was Anita Mäkelä. In run number three, 4.96 seconds lit up on the scoreboard, good enough to jump into the number four spot. But the 247mph speed was an indication something was wrong.

The blower belt came off, destroying some electrical wiring and causing the engine to detonate and kick two rods – not the way Mäkelä wanted to start the season. It looks as though Micke Kågered left the worst engine problems from last year behind. With no fires and no dramas, the 5.14-second ET gave the Bahco MPM-driver the number five qualifying position. Jari Halinen’s Rune Fjeld Motorsport entry looks great in its new colours and his 5.56 seconds from the first round of qualifying brought him the number six position. Unfortunately the team had to change the engine after that run.


Lex Joon

Another Finn, Timo Lehtimäki, lay seventh, just ahead of returning 2005 European Top Fuel champion Lex Joon. Joon’s team finished the car just in time but hurt the crankshaft in the first round. In the third session the Kevin Poynter-tuned car overpowered the track. On its last run, the car had a perfect launch but, when a cylinder went away, Joon, already in the elimination ladder, lifted to prevent further damage. Andy Carter was the only driver not to qualify for eliminations. Although the brand-new team did a fine job and looked great, they needed more track time to find the right set-up for the car. A 6.30-second ET in the fourth session was their best for this weekend.

Results documents:
Link to final qualification list
Link to elimination ladder