EVENT REPORTING:


- Online report from the event published by at 

FACTS ABOUT Santa Pod Raceway can be found at http://www.santapod.com

Speedgroup publish the  European Finals Review in our next newsletter, edition #12.

SPEEDGROUP CONTACT PERSON ON SITE:
co-ordinator Åsa Kinnemar tel +46-705 31 53 32

CHAMPIONSHIP CLASSES PREVIEW:

  


Thomas Nataas

FIA Top Fuel Dragster:
8 teams currently listed for an 8 car elimination ladder. Competition distance: 1000 feet

Jari Halinen (FIN)
Anita Makela (FIN)
Thomas Nataas (NOR)
Stig Neergard (DEN)
Chris Andrews (GBR)
Patrik Pers (SWE)
Duncan Micallef (ML)
Christopher Polidano (ML)* to run observed runs

In championship points lead: Thomas Naatas

Notes: 
With only one race to go Nataas leads the championship with a 81 point advantage over Mäkelä. Horto is still in third, Neergaard fourth and Halinen completes the top five.

Polidano to complete the licence and run oberved runs. Unsure at this point if he will be part of the elimination ladder.

Runs in the low 4 sec range and (if conditions allow) some 3.90´s sec runs is what I hope for and what I also think the teams can deliver. They normally do well at Santa Pod and I hope so also this time. All teams are capable and the event win is open for grabs, I don´t dare to guess the outcome..

If interested, please check the complete points standings under a separate headline.


Paul Ingar Udtian

FIA Top Methanol Dragster:
2 teams entered 

Notes: Jonny Lagg and Thetys are the only two drivers are on the entry list, but the bad news is that Thethys will withdraw due to engine damage. Please read any updates on that at Eurodragster.com over the weekend. - Link to the event coverage index page

As no driver in the class has participtated in events in all countries in the championship (UK, Sweden, Finland and Germany which is mandated in the FIA regulations), sorry to say there will no be European champion in Top Methanol Dragster 2013.


Great view of the Santa Pod track from the startline. Michael Malmgren - Pro Stock (near) on the entry list

Adam Flamholc

FIA Top Methanol Funny Car:
7 teams entered for an 8 car elimination ladder

Leif Andreasson
Danny Bellio
Jonnie Lindberg
Rob Turner
Stephanie Milam
Johan Lindberg
(Adam Flamholc)
Gareth Ellis

In championship lead: Adam Flamholc (SWE)

Notes: Three drivers had the chance of becoming European champion:  Flamholc, Andreasson and Jonnie Lindberg.

However championship leader Adam Flamholc recently decided to cancel his participation at the European Finals after having considered the options carefully. Adam and the MMR team will instead be at Rockingham, US aiming to win a series title in Pro Modified in the ADRL (American Drag Racing League), where they have competed parallelly during a hectic 2013 race season..

With Flamholc earning no more points also 4th placed Johan Lindberg has a hypothetical chance to win. But the likely scenario is the 2013 European champion will be Leif Andreasson or Jonnie Lindberg..

The top five championship ranking before European Finals:
1 Adam Flamholc (SWE) 380
2. Leif Andreasson (SWE) 350
3. Jonnie Lindberg (SWE) 343
4. Johan Lindberg (SWE) 311
5. Ulf Leanders (SWE) 241


Michael Gullqvist

FIA Pro Modified:
19 teams entered for a 16 car elimination ladder, wherof 9 UK based teams.

Notes: Michael Gullqvist is as close as can be to securing the title

The top five championship ranking before European Finals:
1 Michael Gullqvist (SWE) 502 p.
2. Mattias Wulcan (SWE) 373 p.
3. Marc Meihuizen (NED) 278 p.
4. Robert Joosten (NED) 258 p.
5. David Vegter (NED) 255 p.

All top five are on the entry list and this will be mostly about the 3rd place (which will no doubt go to Holland). But more than the championship it is great to see so many domestic teams mix with the championship teams who travels to all races.

I think we can expect 5 second runs if conditions are normal Santa Pod standard. However I don´t think the teams that ran records at Tierp can have some difficulties to adjust, since the tracks (concrete vs asphalt) and weather conditions may not be similar.  


Jimmy Ålund

FIA Pro Stock:
5 teams entered (all from Sweden)

Notes: Jimmy Ålund has secured the championship title. 4th ranked Callin not entered

This event in Pro Stock will all be about the numbers and tuning. The drivers on site are all skilled and brilliant at what they do. The event win is open for grabs and that will keep them all going

The top five championship ranking before European Finals:
1 Jimmy Ålund 508 p
2. Thomas Lindström 439 p
3. Michael Malmgren 293 p
4. Micke Callin 244 p
5. Magnus Petersson 204 p
 
Check the entry list under a separate headline and please note late changes may occur.
   

FIM Europe Drag Bike Championship


Top Fuel Bike - Ian King

The European Finals is round #4 and concluding the FIM Europe Drag Bike Championship for the classes Top Fuel Bike, Super Twin Bike and Pro Stock Bike. Since 2013 Speedgroup has no involvement in the drag bike championship (like we had assisting the promoter in 2011 and 2012), but Eurodragster.com brings the news from as well individual teams as events and of course from the European Finals, where the most excting thing to follow (in my opinion) is if someone will break the 6 second barrier in Pro Stock Bike. The two favourites and having been closest are Finlands Fredrik Fredlund and Elvira Karlsson, Sweden (who ran 7.02 at Tierp during the Scandinavian Internationals.


photo: Elvira Karlsson (right) won the invitational event at Tierp and Kalle Lyrén was runner-up. Both are entered at the European Finals.