photo: Pro Mod racer Mats Eriksson in front of the Tierp arena crowd

The Sweden Internationals was the first championship event held at the new world class drag racing facility of Tierp Arena. The event was included in the FIA & UEM European Drag Racing Championships as round #2 for the FIA Car teams and round #3 for the UEM Drag Bike teams. It was also included in the NDRS Dragracing Series and SDL Drag Racing League which is administered by Speedgroup

293 entered teams produced 1765 runs on the track during the four days the event was on. The weather was the dry and sunny  and weather did not intefere with the on track activities. Sportsman day thursday, the event was run with few interruptions which meant the sportsman classes could enjoy five qualification sessions instead of the scheduled three. The two days of qualifications for the championship teams included two sessions per day per class and in addition more sportsman car and bike racing.

The Tierp Arena was officially opened sunday morning during impressive ceremonies that included participation of a a number of persons with importance to the Tierp Arena and the sport of drag racing. For anyone present this will mark a day to remember and after the completed event there was no doubt the Tierp Arena has found its official place on the world´s drag racing map and among the top ranked when it comes to the standard of the facility as well as the performance level the prepared track had proved to offer.

Other track operators on site included representatives from all the other FIA/UEM championship venues; Santa Pod Raceway (UK), Alastaro (Finland), Kundmadaras (Hungary), HockenheimRing (Germany) and Gardermoen Raceway (Norway)

The media report included highlights on national televsion as well as being filmed for the championship tv-production. Online reporting was covered by Eurodragster.com
www.eurodragster.com

Statistics showed 67,999 visitors, 444,877 Page Views and 5,058,956 hits for the event coverage Eurodragster provided. In addition results were provided at the US based major results service site Drag Race Central to which Eurodragster sent data, a project initiated by Speedgroup already in 2010. Timeslips, qualification lists and ladders was also made public online and close to live by the timekeepers Time Tree on behalf of the organizers.

Facts and more photos from Tierp Arena can be found at www.tierparena.com


The starter trio that operated the christmas tree and oversaw the 1765 runs (!) on track. Nettan Heleander is the only female starter in Europe at the highest championship level.


Abby and Darryl are the two presenters in the championship tv-production. The 2 x 52 minute shows from the event will broadcasted on channels that can be seen in many countries and it is also place online at the Speedgroup website. www.speedgroup.eu


Hard working ladies; Ritha and Jessica of the Tierp Arena co-founder Lindberg family and event manager Emelie Carlswärd (right). Missing in this photo but equally involved is Åsa Andréasson, wife of co-founder Leif Andréasson.


The opening ceremony had participants in the air.

Founders Leif Andréasson and Lars-Erik Lindberg recieved an American flag from the US ambassador representing Drag Racing´s native country at the opening ceremony. Leif and Lars-Erik and the group surrounding them have managed what many before them only dreamt of - the Tierp Arena is for real and in operation for drag racing Europe to enjoy!


Stunning building by the startline area where the race control, media center, offices and VIP suites are or shall be located. All functioned well despite not being 100% finished yet.



For the 3M Peltor Best Protected award Top Fuel Dragster pilot Anita Mäkelä was selected. Her crew uses Peltor ear defenders while working at the startline and in the pits. Anita recieved a digital FM radio hearing protector valued at €180 and it was delivered to a surprised but thankful Anita in the pits by Speedgroup´s Åsa Kinnemar and Jan Sjöberg


Speedgroup Drivers & Riders Club
Among the sportsman drivers and riders that signed up membership in the club which is directed towards the NDRS and SDL drivers and riders, a draw for some fine awards were made during the Sweden Internationals:

The outcome of the draw was that:

Jan Hallman won SEK2500 value of products from Simpson Sweden


Mats Karlsson won design and print of 500 hero cards. Designed by Speedgroup, produced by Umeå Offset and sponsored by Jeppes Tools


Bosse Hall won a subscription for one year of BILSPORT Magazine, which also enclosed a t-shirt and hat to the winner


Halvor Överby won SEK 2500 value of products from Persåkers Speedshop, and the gift certificate was delivered in person by Jöran Persåker.

Read more about the Speedgroup Drivers and riders club by clicking the link
Information sheet Speedgroup Drivers & Riders Club


Junior Drag Racing t-shirts

The Junior Dragster class association had just got their newly designed t-shirts available for the event in Tierp. Part of the sale for the t-shirts go to the work the association do. Speedgroup and the Jr Dragster Association will co-operate ahead in various matters with questions of importance to the class and the many young drivers in the class. We will be able to tell more in a forthcoming edition, meanwhile if anyone  is interested in the Junior Drag Racing t-shirts please email Speedgroup co-ordnator Åsa Kinnemar asa.kinnemar@speedgroup.eu who will be happy to connect anyone with Jr Dragster association representatives.

Some of the Jr Dragster drivers acted models for the Jr Drag Racing t-shirts. A junior dragster was also on display at the Speedgroup Service Center and one in the Swedish Autosport federations booth in the pit area. Families could stop for a chat with a Jr Dragster driver and any child intetested could check out the dragster and event try the drivers seat.