Micke Larsson Racing have had the ex-Micke Kågered funny car in their possessions a few seasons. Co-owner and to pilot the car is Mikael Larsson, who completed the first part of his competition license at Frank Hawley´s drag racing school in the US earlier this year but need s few more runs to pass and be cleared for European championship competition. Meanwhile team Larsson wanted to test the cars potential and asked 2010 champion Dan Larsen to drive the car at the Tierp event. A 6th place in the qualifications, but the performance level was not enough to win rounds. At least not with Grödem in the other lane in the quarter finals. Arvid Grödem who had blasted down the track at a new personal best of 5.754 sec at 404 km/h, continued to run well and took out Larsen from from further competition without mercy.

On the other side of the ladder Swede Jonas Staflund (who has been in the class for many years but had a some seasons off championship racing) was prepered for his maybe toughest run of his life facing Ulf Leanders in the quarter finals. Staflund wasin the last position during qualifications, performing in the 6.20´s while Leanders had set the fastest ET of the meet with 5.65 sec at 411 km/h . There is a common say that the no. 1 qualifier rarely wins the events and this should prove to be the case during this first championship elimination day in Tierp Arenas history (and not only in this calss). While Staflund improved his performance running 6.02 sec, Leanders had seemingly traction problems and his 6.24 sec was not enough to keep him in the competition.

Jarmo Kuutniemi outrun Jurgen Nagel in a spectacular run where one of Kuuniemi´s chutes were out from soon after the start.

The semi final between Staflund and Kuutniemi resulted in a win for Staflund, who very unexpectedly found himself in the final against steady performing Arvid Grödem.

Leif Andréasson, co-founder and sales manager of the Tierp Arena had an incredibly hectic event, where we gather the piloting task in funny car had no chance to be his first priority. The car however performed competively and Andréasson was 2nd quickest with 5.75 sec during the qualifications. The ET running against Danny Bellio in the quarter finals was in the 5.70´s again which was enough to take Bellio out. Then in the semi final run against Grödem a  red-light put a halt to Leif´s further competition and he could focus on the media and invited guests fully.

In the final Grödem was a no-show due to damage and Staflund is the first ever championship event winner in methanol funny car at Tierp Arena. Staflund has also entered to run in the following round at Alastaro, Finland at the beginning of july.

Winner Jonas Staflund and mechanic Jonas getting ready to enter the Tierp Arena track


Leif Andréasson was a man with an extremely busy agenda during the event.


Andréasson on track was well in the game during the qualifications


Jarmo Kuutniemi managed to win a round with one chute hanging out


Arvid Grödem had a chance to win the event but had to withdraw from the final. Arvid went home with a runner-up trophy and and new personal best at least


The Leanders Bros cruel and fast looking funny car qualified no.1 not so surprisingly

It is Arvid Grödem who leave Tierp Arena in the championship points lead (113 points) while Staflund and Kuutniemi follows at 93 respectively 90 points. Fast running Ulf Leanders has 86 points and is in 4th place.  As one elimination round win is rewarded with 20 points, this is a highly open matter when entering round #3 at Alastaro Finland. The 2010 champion Dan Larsen sits out this the major part of the championship season and we are most certainly looking to see another champion this season and possibly one that have not won the championship before!