Young Finnish rising Top Fuel star Antti Horto saw a dream come true by winning his first ever Top Fuel race in the FIA European Top Fuel Championship. From third qualifying position the Eagle Racing Motorsport driver defeated Stig Neergaard in the semi-finals on a holeshot, to take the win in the all Finnish final over Anita Mäkelä with his best run of the Main Event weekend. The name of Horto can be added to the favourites for the 2013 FIA European Top Fuel Championship.


Antti Horto, Eagle Racing in the RF Motorsport operated dragster

Looking at the statistics it’s not Antti Horto’s first Top Fuel win. Two years ago he got the winners points as months after the Alastaro race Tommy Johnson Jr. was disqualified an runner-up Horto was declared the winner. But he did not get the trophy live at the track and was not on the highest step of the podium. So the win at the 2013 Main Event at Santa Pod felt so much better and was so well deserved. When the Eagle Racing Motorsport driver entered the Top Fuel ranks a few years ago, everybody could already see it would not take long before the former Junior Dragster, Super Comp and Competition Eliminator racer would reach the top of the class. Last year Horto could not do the full tour, but still was the number four in the championship. Now with this start of the season the young Finn is one of the favourites for the 2013 FIA European Top Fuel title.


Thomas Nataas and Andersen Racing, back in the FIA championship

Most teams had to get used to the new Santa Pod track surface and although there were no complains at all, the second part of the track was too fresh to handle all the 8.000 bhp of a Top Fuel engine. As a result the numbers were not down into the 4.0 seconds zone. After two ‘installation’ and try out runs Per and Karsten Andersen knew enough and as expected Thomas Nataas drove the Andersen Racing fueler into the number one position with a great 4.102 seconds.


Neergaard

Stig Neergaard was a solid second as the John Smith tuned car showed consistency with 4.20, 4.23 and 4.33 passes.

Main Event winner Antti Horto and runner-up Anita Mäkelä


Antti Horto was in third (4.28 seconds) while Euro Finals winner Anita Mäkelä (assisted again by American tuner Donnie Bender) complained about lack of power and was down in fourth.


Anita Mäkelä packing the chutes.

Behind number five Micke Kågered and just in front of Rune Fjeld Motorsports teammate Jari Halinen, there were big problems for reigning champion Risto Poutiainen. The Finn had traction problems and in his last chance to improve, Poutiainen did not lift when the car went up in smoke with heavy engine damage as a result.


Poutiainen qualified, but missed the eliminations

Poutiainen did not take part in eliminations and one day after the Main Event the news came out that the Finn was no longer part of the RF (Rune Fjeld) Motorsports organisation. At the moment it’s not clear if the reigning champion will be back later this season in another car, but it looks like he will not be able to defend his title.

After a solid 4.15 seconds bye run in the first round of eliminations, Nataas had to face Mäkelä in the semi-finals, as she won the classic first round confrontation (going back to their Top Alcohol times) with Kågered. Nataas was the favourite but half track the Andersen Racing car lost traction and in 4.34 seconds the Finnish chicken farmer advanced to the final. In the other semi-final Horto (who had a bye run in the first round when Poutiainen did not show up) met Neergaard, as the Dane won his first round in a great 4.15 seconds over Halinen. Horto had the better start and took the win over Neergaard on a holeshot. So the Main Event had an all Finnish final with last year’s Euro Finals winner Mäkelä against the 28 years old rising star Horto. Horto had the better start and the fastest time (4.15 seconds against 4.33 for Mäkelä) and took the win. The Eagle Racing Motorsport/Rune Fjeld Motorsports driver is a force to be reckoned with for the rest of the season.

LINK TO FULL RESULTS:
Link to the final qualification list  (pdf)
Link to results eliminations ladder (pdf)

Results files provided by TSI Timers Europe and Santa Pod Raceway.