After two runner-up positions Risto Poutiainen took his well-deserved first FIA European Top Fuel title last year. A dream came true for the Finnish Top Fuel racer, but as everybody knows, to keep that number one is even more difficult than to get it. And as Poutiainen said immediately after his first crown, he wants to go for more! As usual the Finn is part of the Rune Fjeld Motorsports stable again. With Jari Halinen, also from Finland and also a RFM-driver, the team of nitro veteran Rune Fjeld took the runner-up position in the FIA European Top Fuel Championship last year too. Halinen had his best ever season last year and will only have to improve a little bit to take his first ever FIA European Top Fuel title. The RFM car will fly the Sisu Polar colours again this year.


The 2012 champion - Risto Poutianen

Other favourites



But talking about Finnish racers, the toughest competition for the champion might come from Anita Mäkelä, last year’s number three in the championship. The fan favourite chicken farmer showed great form at the end of last season by winning the European Finals and will try as hard as she can to get that number one plate.


Antti Horto was last year’s biggest surprise and although the young Finn only did four of the six races, he was the number four in the championship! Horto’s name is on the Main Event entry list now, so it looks like he will do the full tour and if he does, he is among the favourites too.



As the number six Micke Kågered was the first non-Finnish driver in last year’s championship. The Bahco Express-driver had a far from trouble-free season and is looking for revenge. The team worked hard this winter to solve the technical issues from last season. Stig Neergaard is more than just an outsider. The Dane has all the equipment to go fast and already surprised the favourites more than once. As he could not do the full tour last year, Neergaard ended up as the number eight in the championship. Don’t be surprised to see the Dane run in the top three.


Top favourite?
There were rumours about Thomas Nataas and Andersen Racing, and only a few days ago there was a confirmation. Yes the Norwegian Top Fuel racer and Per and Karsten Andersen will do the full FIA European Championship tour together. And although they only did one race last year, the multiple championship winning team is always a favourite when they enter a race or championship. The always relaxed Nataas is a proven winner too and team and driver know each other very well from races in the States and Europe. It’s not a big risk to put your money on this combination.


   

Chris Andrews on home turf - Santa Pod Raceway

Unsure
Before the start of the 2012 season Chris Andrews already knew his first full Top Fuel season in the F&A Racing Lucas Oil car was going to be a learning year. And it was, ups and downs, good runs but sometimes far too many problems. This year Andrews wants to do better and improve on that number seven position in the championship. But his name is still not on the Main Event entry list as the team is still waiting for parts they already ordered after last year’s European Finals. It would be a shame if that’s the reason the local hero is sidelined for the opening round of the championship.       



Two cars
Not on the entry list too is Urs Erbacher. The multiple FIA European champion said a few months ago he wanted to concentrate on the FIA European Championship again, do the full tour and be King of Nitro again. Let’s hope the Swiss has his operation race-ready in time, because he will be missed by his many English fans.



Only 18 years old and making his Top Fuel debut this year is Noah Stutz. The former Junior Dragster and Super Comp racer steps up to the second Erbacher Racing car. The young Swiss will have to do his licence runs first and his competition debut will be the NitrOlympX at Hockenheim in August. Great to see another new and young talent enter the top class of drag racing.   



Not a full tour
Like last year there are drivers and teams that can’t do all six European races. Janne Ahonen had a very good 2012 season, but will only run a limited schedule this year, so it will be difficult for the popular Finn (who will make a comeback as a ski jumper too this year) to repeat last year’s number five position.

Other names that will show up later this year are, the fastest Maltese on earth Duncan Micallef, Håkan Fällström, Patrik Pers, Timo Lethimäki and hopefully Paul Ingar Udtian, the Norwegian TMD-racer who made his Top Fuel licence runs at last year’s Main Event.
 

Duncan Micallef


Stig Neergaard


Jari Halinen