Jimmy
Ålund’s lead over Thomas Lindström is 69 points, so
statistically, Thomas can only retain his championship if Jimmy fails
to qualify which in a four car field is almost impossible.
Nothing is impossible in the world of pro stock, but equally, all
rational thought says Jimmy is the 2013 champion
Friday Q1
Magnus
Petersson is the first to run, alongside Michael Malmgren.
Magnus’ engine revs climb very high at the hit and he hits rough shake
rolling to a halt at the eighth marker. Michael fares
considerably better, running a pretty trouble free 6.7152 at 202 mph
Jimmy
and Thomas run next with Jimmy putting in a solid 6.6093 to Thomas’
6.7084. Both looking for data passes. But Thomas red light shows
he is trying.
Friday Q2
Next
round and we simply swap lanes in the pairs, but Jimmy Ålund, having
qualified in number one position pretty much has the championship
wrapped up.
Michael and Magnus up first with both cars putting in
reasonable 6.7 second passes. No improvement for Michael, but
Magnus records his first full lap of the weekend.
Jimmy and
Thomas run next. Jimmy runs a trouble free 6.58 which shows the
Santa Pod Track can take rapid pro stock runs. Thomas hits
massive shake which I feel through the startline. An alarming
noise from the Ernyrd cars Dodge makes it sound like something broke,
but the crew confirm later that it was an odd misfire, not a breakage.
Saturday Q3
Improvements
for everyone in the third session. Thomas and Michael make up the
first pair with Michael out qualifying Thomas 6.67 to 6.68, this take
Michael into second place overall.
Jimmy faces off against his old car next with Jimmy putting in an almost European record 6.53 against Magnus’ 6.71
Saturday Q4
Only Thomas manages an improvement in Q4 taking second place back from Michael
Final qualifying positions
Driver ET KMH/MPH
Jimmy Ålund 6.5375 339.2972/210.83
Thomas Lindstrom 6.6212 325.5/ 207.05
Michael Malmgren 6.6726 333.1173/ 206.99
Magnus Petersson 6.7161 330.4619/ 205.34
See the full championship listings (and for all FIA classes) at a separate page in this newsletter.
Don´t miss to read the interview with champion Jimmy Ålund in a separate article in this edition!
European Finals Review - FIA Pro Stock
Ålund hit grandslam at Santa Pod - winner and champion
The European finals weekend at Santa Pod looked as though it may be the first weather affected race of the 2013 season. However, as the weekend turned out, weather was not a problem and racing was unaffected. Crowds were bigger than 2012 and the new track surface is improving event by event.
The European finals weekend at Santa Pod looked as though it may be the first weather affected race of the 2013 season. However, as the weekend turned out, weather was not a problem and racing was unaffected. Crowds were bigger than 2012 and the new track surface is improving event by event.
Jimmy Ålund
Sunday - Eliminations
Pairs for first round eliminations are: Thomas Lindström against Michael Malmgren : Jimmy Ålund against Magnus Petersson.
Michael gets a big holeshot on Thomas and takes the win to progress to the final which is the final piece to guarantee Jimmy has the number one on his car in 2014
Jimmy straps a 6.57 onto Magnus who can only answer with a 6.87, so Jimmy will face Michael in the final
Sunday Final
Jimmy got off the line first and hit a little shake early on which he drove through. Michael with the same issues.
Jimmy records a 6.58 to Michael’s 6.68 to take the final and the championship as well as number one qualifier in every round this year.
Once again I have had a brilliant time with
the Pro Stock teams and I look forward to reporting on your progress again in
the 2014 season. Have a good break one
and all and see you on the track next year.
Ian Hart
LINK TO ELIMINATION LADDER
LINK TO QUALIFICATION LIST
Courtesy of TSI Timers and Santa Pod Raceway
Magnus Petersson
Michael Malmgren
Thomas Lindström
Jimmy Ålund and Michael Malmgren met in the final
FIA European Drag Racing Championship 2013 - Final points standings
|
Driver |
Country |
GB |
SWE |
FIN |
GER |
SWE |
GB |
Total |
|
Jimmy Ålund |
SWE |
104 |
87 |
107 |
106 |
104 |
90 |
598 |
|
Thomas Lindström |
SWE |
87 |
104 |
84 |
85 |
79 |
42 |
481 |
|
Michael Malmgren |
SWE |
60 |
56 |
59 |
61 |
57 |
62 |
355 |
|
Micke Callin |
SWE |
38 |
60 |
55 |
33 |
58 |
0 |
244 |
|
Magnus Petersson |
SWE |
35 |
37 |
35 |
58 |
39 |
36 |
240 |
|
Jan Palmqvist |
SWE |
0 |
34 |
37 |
34 |
33 |
0 |
138 |
|
Ulf Wagnhester |
SWE |
0 |
33 |
33 |
33 |
15 |
0 |
114 |
|
Jan Ericsson |
SWE |
0 |
33 |
34 |
0 |
33 |
0 |
100 |
|
Christian Sagelv |
SWE |
0 |
12 |
12 |
34 |
37 |
0 |
95 |
|
Mats Jacobsson |
SWE |
34 |
12 |
|
0 |
13 |
0 |
59 |
|
Bo Pettersson |
SWE |
0 |
12 |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
12 |
|
Tommy Leindahl |
SWE |
0 |
12 |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
12 |
Text: Ian Hart
Photos by Remco Scheelings, Stefan Boman and Lena Perés
About the editor: UK based editor Ian Hart took on the task to follow and report from the Pro Stock class on behalf of Speedgroup in 2011. At the time he had little knowledge about Pro Stock drag racing, but jumped at it and learnt quickly by being curious and communicating with the teams. By now, Hart has gotten to know the teams and the class well and we will follow his Pro Stock reports with great interest over the FIA championship race season 2013.
This article is part of the Speedgroup Club Europe Newsletter #12/2013
Published by Speedgroup www.speedgroup.eu
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© Speedgroup 2013