Sweden´s Jonny Lagg replaced Krister Johansson first time in competition after having finished his licence at the Summer Nationals at Tierp in july. He already then showed he could handle the dragster brilliantly (even impressing the assigned examinator). But could he handle the stress of having another competitor in the other lane? Evidently that should show not to be a problem..

UK based driver Tethys entered in Dave Wilsons car for the second event this season, where Main Event at Santa Pod was his first appearance in FIA Top Methanol Dragster competition (and also his first event win).

So what could the two rookies Lagg and Tethys do about veteran Paul Ingar Udtian and the Islanders Racing team fron Norway?

Well, after four qualification sessions it was clear that all three cars on site was competitive and functioning well. And it was Jonny Lagg who was quickest and impressive enough not far behind what Johansson ran during his last season in the car in 2012 (5.42 sec) at a speed of 423 km, which was slightly slower that what Lagg managed.. well done guys!

Final qualification results after 4 sessions:

1. Jonny Lagg (SWE) 5,4648 sec /428,23 kph
2. Paul Ingar Udtian (NOR) 5,5633 sec/410,96 kph
3. Tethys (GBR) 5,6469 sec / 413,16 kph


Thetys

Udtian

Lagg

Winner of the Scandinavian Internats  Jonny Lagg, Sweden (left) with runner up Paul Ingar Udtian, Norway

Eliminations:

The small field of three meant a 4 car ladder was to be in effect where no 1 qualifier Jonny Lagg got the bye run in the semi-final. He took it easy on parts running a 9-sec run which nevertheless was good for a place in the final.

In the other semi-final Paul Ingar Udtian performed at the same level as during qualifications and blasted down the track at 5.58 sec/409 km and there was never any doubt in which lane the winner indication should light up. Thetys and team Wilson´s race finished with a 6,40 range run and question was if Udtian and the Islanders crew could improve performance to the level shown by Lagg and tuner Krister Johansson.

The answer to that question was no.. and Lagg´s 5.59 sec/417 was I think a very decent winning time to Udtians 6.20. 

Jonny Lagg highest on the podium at Tierp and a good start to what we hope will be a continued career in 2014.

Jonny Lagg and Thetys are (as far as I know) the only two drivers entered for the European Finals at Santa Pod Sept 5-8th.

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

However there will be one driver who has the highest score and at the moment that is actually Paul Ingar Udtian at 110 points, closely followed by Thethys at 107 and Lagg at 87. As one won run in elimination is worth 20 points an there are qualification points at stake, the ranking is still an open matter. My qualified guess is that both Tethys and Jonny Lagg do it for the fun and excitement and not the points, and that Paul Ingar Udtian (who was also entered at Hockenheim where the class was cancelled) is suffering most of the three. Let´s wait and see how FIA evaluate the TMD class and if it will be kept as a championship class. No matter in what form I am convinced there is a future for this entertaining and fast performing class.

- LINK TO ELIMINATION LADDER

 Worth noting is that the European ET record still stands at 5.298 sec. which was set by Dave Wilson (UK) at Tierp Arena Sweden june-2011. The four other FIA classes had new ET and speed records set at Tierp! First time in history that happens..