Top Methanol Funny Car Review
Main Event
A field of 3 competed for the honours in Round One of the 2012 FIA Top Methanol Funny Car championship at Santa Pod, braving the rain which affected the meeting..
The TMFC qualifying was limited to 2 rounds on Saturday and opened with Steph Milam running 6.2149/238, with a huge bounce at the top end that saw the car several feet off the ground. She had to be helped from the car at the end of the shutdown area and it was reported after the meeting that she had cracked a vertebrae in her back. Rob and Danny were already strapped in with engines running and had to be shut down while Steph was rescued. Rob took longer to re-fire and so Danny soloed to a 5.8274/246, followed by Rob with a pedalled and short-shifted 6.3320/206.28.  

Steph didn't run again, leaving Rob and Danny to make another attempt which ended in spectacular style, as Danny crossed the centreline, wiping out the timing blocks at the finish line and denying Rob a time and speed for his run. Danny then failed to deploy his chutes and ended up going a few metres into the field with minimal damage to the bodywork of the Dodge Charger.

The eliminations opened with two bye runs, Steph having retired and being a no-show. Both teams went for a good time, wanting lane choice in the final. Bellio ran the fastest time of the weekend with a 5.7679/239.84 that saw him end up in the field yet again and Turner recorded a 5.8821/236.

The final put Rob and Danny side by side once more, with Danny having the luxury of lane choice. Rob left first and Danny had minor tyreshake but held it together and began to power his way past Rob. It was neck and neck until suddenly Rob's car sidestepped across the centreline just after 1000' and followed Danny through the finishing line in the right-hand lane, handing the Belgian team their first ever TMFC FIA win.

Danny Bellio (near lane) vs Rob Turner


                      FIA TOP METHANOL FUNNY CAR  Winner: Danny Bellio (BEL)

 

QUALIFYING:

 

ET

MPH

KPH

1

Danny Bellio

BEL

5.8274

246.50

396.70

2

Stephanie Milam

GBR

6.2149

238.56

383.93

3

Rob Turner

GBR

6.3320

206.28

331.98

ELIMINATIONS:

Semi-Final:
Danny Bellio 5.7679/239.84 on bye run

Rob Turner 5.8821/236.08 def. Stephanie Milam no show

Final
Danny Bellio 5.9120/234.98 def Rob Turner no time or speed, DQ


Low Elapsed Time of the Meet: 5.7679 seconds – Danny Bellio
Top Speed of the Meet: 246.50 mph / 396.70 kph –  Danny Bellio


Happy duo on the podium - winner Danny Bellio (right) and runner-up Rob Turner.
Well done both teams!

Text: Dave Alexander
Photos: Remco Scheelings

This article is part of the Speedgroup Club Europe Newsletter #5/2012

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