Sweden Internationals 2013 - Pro Modified Review
Report by Kristian Nyström (former driver in the Pro Modified class)

What an event! With great traction, new records and many spectators on site to enjoy the action. The track crew even won the battle over the weather, and despite a rainy start on the race day, eliminations could be completed in full and without running late.
Initially the qualifications showed many teams struggling to get a grip of the track and find a workable setup. Tire shakes seemed to be a general problem and the bump spot was at 6.7 seconds at the time. But once the track had been tested and adjusted to, we got to see performance at absolute top level.

COMMENTS QUALIFICATIONS (final qualification ranking further down):



I was surprised to see Niclas Andersson and the Old Fifty One team struggle with tires shakes most of the qualifications and managing “only” a 6.30 sec run during the last qualification session, which was good for the 12th position in the rankings. Not what the team has spoilt us with before. Terje Håkonsen, Norway failed to qualify into the 16 car ladder which also came as a surprise.



Micke Gullqvist managed three out of four runs qualification runs seemingly running on rails, consistent, fast and and straight. Fredde Fagerström, seems to be on top of things all the time, but this time maybe a bit off and wasn´t the burnouts also a bit shorter?



Marc Meihuizen ran 6.09, Tire Shake, then 6.04 and again 6.09. So consistent, great to watch! This is one driver I expect we can look forward to more 5 second runs from, although he only just broke the 6-sec barrier recently (at the Main Event in May) Team Meihuizen have worked hard over the winter and they operate their own engine program.



Mattias Wulcan ran quick during qualifications, 5,97 sec. and at a speed of ”only” 353 km/ h indicating an early shut off.



Mats Eriksson, struggled during the last event with tires shakes and it also started in the same manner at Tierp, but gradually improved and he ran a 6.03 to end the qualifications, which was good for a 4th position Team ME Racing was back in business. Had they finally managed to sort the problems that has been haunting them?



Martin Lundqvist ran, 6.10 at 399 km/h. and a best ET of 407 km/h which is the quickest speed ever in Pro Mod in Europe. Incredible effect from 200 feet out and the team seems to be in 110% control. Impressive considering the tuning of a double turbo methanol pro mod car like Martins is is extremely demanding from start to about 330ft. Unfortunately the engine dropped a valve during the last qualification session and hurt a cylinder head. Lack of spare parts meant, team Lundqvist had to leave the scene already before the eliminations.



photo: At the podium - Swedes Urban Johansson (right) winner and Micke Gullqvist runner-up

Missing and not entered for the Tierp event was Bruno Bader, who drives what is normally one of the most consistent cars in the 6.0 sec range.



Robert Joosten and the Pro Dutch team from the Netherlands spent time testing in the US over the winter, and at Tierp it paid off in form of an improved personal best of 6.11 sec during qualifications
ranking him as no. 8



Urban Johansson impressed and showed his first 5 sec run was no coincidence, it was repeated over the weekend and the low elapsed time of 5.88 sec set during eliminations was also good for a new European ET record. Well done!

There are a lot of fast teams in the Pro Mod field. More and more cars are getting their tune up to the level they want to be. I anticipate that the following races will give us the fastest fields ever and that bump spot at the next Tierp event in August will certainly be in the low 6-sec range.

The full results and personal best listings follows below, statistics provided by Robin Jackson. 

LINK to the Eliminations ladder (jpg)
provided by Time Tree Time keeping and Tierp Arena.

Also, don´t miss Ivan Sansom & Rose Hughes report from Sweden Internationals including Pro Modified published at Drag Racing Online. 



Class sponsor EDRS Pro Modified

                            

REPORT: FIA PRO MODIFIED

RESULTS QUALIFYING:

                                                                                                           Best
                                                                 ET        MPH     Km/H     Km/h

1.      Michael Gullqvist          SWE        5.926    247.27    397.94            

2.      Urban Johansson         SWE        5.941    239.33    385.16    386.27

3.      Mattias Wulcan             SWE        5.971    219.71    353.59    385.71

4.      Mats Eriksson               SWE        6.036    236.97    381.36    382.17

5.      Marc Meihuizen            NED         6.049    240.87    387.65    391.02

6.      David Vegter                NED         6.052    236.13    380.02              

7.      Martin Lundkvist           SWE        6.101    248.00    399.11    407.24

8.      Robert Joosten            NED         6.116    233.83    376.31    379.21

9.      Anders Nilsson             SWE        6.191    230.61    371.13              

10.    Fredrik Fagerström      SWE        6.219    230.29    370.62              

11.    Jan Gunnarsson           SWE        6.262    227.18    365.61              

12.    Niclas Andersson         SWE        6.309    229.98    370.12              

13.    Håkan Persson             SWE        6.517    220.31    354.56

14.    Norbert Kuno               GER         6.529    212.10    341.34              

15.    Johan Westberg           SWE        6.664    213.86    344.17              

16.    Jari Parén                     FIN          6.704    211.03    339.62
        

         Alternates:

17.    Micke Johansson          SWE        6.757    186.83    300.67              

18.    Terje Håkonsen            NOR         6.782    213.58    343.73              

19.    Johan Samuelsson       SWE        6.918    203.48    327.47              

20.    Stefan Carlsson            SWE        7.196    180.30    290.17              

21.    Norbert Schneider       GER         7.285    201.29    323.94              

22.    Stefan Gustafsson        SWE        7.482    177.16    285.11              

23.    Tero Laukkanen           FIN          7.568    196.80    316.72              

24.    Roger Johansson         SWE        8.181    145.82    234.68              

25.    Jöran Persåker             SWE        8.303    172.42    277.49                               

     
        Withdrawn entries:

         Paul ‘Tami’ Brander       FIN

         Patrik Wikström            SWE

    
Eliminations:

*DQ R/L (disqualified redlight)


Round 1:

Anders Nilsson 6.185, 373.44-232.04 def. Robert Joosten 6.162, 384.07-238.65 DQ R/L*

Mats Eriksson 7.805, 225.19-139.93 def. Håkan Persson 11.877, 111.87-69.51 DQ R/L

Niclas Andersson 6.237, 365.61-227.18 def. Marc Meihuizen 6.492, 380.55-236.46

Urban Johansson 6.114, 381.90-237.30 def. Johan Westberg 6.703, 347.94-216.20

Fredrik Fagerström 6.490, 324.32-201.52 def. Micke Johansson (Alternate for M.Lundkvist) broke

Mattias Wulcan 6.006, 388.77-241.57 def. Norbert Kuno 6.809, 263.93-164.00 DQ R/L

David Vegter 6.098, 378.42-235.14 def. Jan Gunnarsson 6.284, 367.85-228.57

Michael Gullqvist 5.950, 393.59-244.57 def. Jari Parén 10.209, 181.51-112.79 DQ R/L

 

Round 2:

Michael Gullqvist 5.899, 395.91-246.01 def. Anders Nilsson 8.648, 159.57-99.15 DQ R/L

Niclas Andersson 6.168, 373.70-232.21 def. Mats Eriksson 6.290, 378.15-234.97

Urban Johansson 5.882, 388.77-241.57 def. Fredrik Fagerström 6.299, 368.60-229.04

Mattias Wulcan 6.212, 370.37-230.14 def. David Vegter 8.952, 160.43-99.69

 

Semi-final:

Michael Gullqvist 5.914, 395.60-245.81 def. Niclas Andersson 6.304, 322.39-200.32

Urban Johansson 5.945, 386.27-240.02 def. Mattias Wulcan no show

 

Final:

Urban Johansson 5.991, 385.71-239.67 def. Michael Gullqvist 5.956, 396.18-246.17 – the final was won at the startline

 

Low Elapsed Time of the Event:  5.882sec. – Urban Johansson [FIA European record]

Top Speed of the Event:  407.24km/h / 253.05mph – Martin Lundkvist

                                     [backed up 399.11 / 248.00 as FIA European record]

Personal-best performances set during event:

 

                                            ET           MPH     Km/H

Stefan Carlsson               7.196       180.30    290.17

Michael Gullqvist                     -       247.27    397.94

Stefan Gustafsson           7.482       177.16    285.11

Micke Johansson             6.757                 -              -

Urban Johansson            5.882       241.57    388.77

Robert Joosten               6.116       238.65    384.07

Martin Lundkvist                     -       253.05    407.24

Marc Meihuizen                       -       242.97    391.02

Anders Nilsson                6.185       232.04    373.44

Håkan Persson                6.517       220.31    354.56

Norbert Schneider          7.285       201.29    323.94

David Vegter                   6.052       236.13    380.02

Johan Westberg              6.664       216.20    347.94

Statistics: Robin Jackson

 



Text: Kristian Nyström
Additional data provided by Robin Jackson
Photos: Remco Scheelings

About the editor: Kristian Nyström was active as a driver in the Pro Mod class up until 2012, when he decided to take a break and sold the race car. Kristian is new as Speedgroup editor, but is a share holder in Speedgroup and has taken interest in Speedgroup´s activities over the last few years. Nyström is also assigned Speedgroup´s contact person in Finland.

This article is part of the Speedgroup Club Europe Newsletter #6/2013

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