It wasn’t the question if Thomas Nataas and the Andersen Racing team would win a race this season, but when. Well in their second outing of 2013, the Sweden Internationals at the great Tierp Arena track, Nataas and the Per and Karsten Andersen tuned car did it and took the win. But the Norwegian had to work hard for his trophy as Stig Neergaard was a strong opponent again and with his 3.98 seconds in qualifying, the Dane laid down the Top Fuel run of the weekend.


The Eagle Racing dragster piloted by Antti Horto

Qualifying at Tierp Arena started like the Main Event finished. After the first round of qualifying Santa Pod winner Antti Horto was in the number one position with a great 4.07 seconds. Stig Neergaard had to tune his car without the help of John Smith in Sweden, as family illness kept the tuner in the States. But still in the first run Neergaard was in the number two position with a solid 4.18 sec. Thomas Nataas was fifth but jumped into the number one position with a storming 4.03 sec. (487 kph) in his second attempt. But rain interrupted the second session and as Anita Mäkelä and Neergaard could not start, the results were cancelled and the order was back to what it was after run number one.

Per and Karsten Andersen now knew what the track could handle and in the third attempt they copied the Friday run with a great 4.0366sec. and Nataas was where he wanted to be, in the number one position. But a big surprise in the fourth round of qualifying. After another good 4.09 sec. in round three, in a storming run Neergaard took over the number one position with a superb 3.981 sec./490 kph! The Dane is the second driver to run a 3 in Europe and as the first one was Tommy Johnson Jr. (Andersen Racing car, Tierp 2011), Neergaard is the first European to run a 3 on a European track. Nataas could not improve and stayed in second, and Horto with his Friday time was back in third.

Halinen

With the help of American tuner Jimmy Walsh Jari Halinen looked stronger than ever before and with a great 4.11sec. the Finn was in fourth. A big disappointed for Anita Mäkelä. The Finnish fan favourite missed power and as a 4.20 seconds was her best run, Mäkelä was back in fifth. In his first European race of the 2013 season Patrik Pers was sixth, but also had two big fireballs in Saturday qualifying.


Kågered piloted the RF Motorsports dragster

Micke Kågered was in the Rune Fjeld Motorsports car formerly driven by Risto Poutiainen. After a check out pass the start of the other runs looked strong, but still the Rune Fjeld tuned Bahco-driver could not make a real good full pass and was back in seventh. Eight and last was Timo Lethimäki. The Finn had problems, went sideways a few times and a 7.32 seconds was his best run. 

Thomas Naatas (left) and runner-up Stig Neergaard

No major upsets in the first round of eliminations as the top four qualifiers all won their rounds, although it was no so easy for all of them. Kågered had the better reaction time and seemed to be in front halftrack, but Nataas passed the finishline first in a strong and winning 4.08 seconds against a good 4.15 seconds for the Swede. Great runs for Horto and Halinen too as the Santa Pod winner clocked a winning 4.09 seconds against Pers and Halinen a 4.10 seconds to leave an up in smoke Mäkelä far behind. Despite a broken blowerbelt Neergaard still ran a winning 4.15 sec. against Lehtimäki.

In the semi-final Neergaard had to face Halinen and although both had their problems, the Dane won this round too and was in the final. In the other semi-final Nataas and Horto had to race each other. An important run for the Norwegian, as loosing would give the Finn a bigger lead in the championship. In a great pedal fest Nataas won, although at least one time the rear wheels of the Andersen Racing Top Fueler were of the ground when the Norwegian hit the throttle.

So the best possible final between the number one and two qualifier. Nataas was away first and seemed to be in front, but then had to lift as he lost traction. But Neergaard had problems too and had to lift after the eight mile. Nataas floored the loud pedal again, picked up speed and passed the finishline in a winning 4.20 against a 4.27 seconds for Neergaard. But Nataas had his ‘moment’, as the car drifted to the wall and ‘kissed’ it with the left rear wheel after passing the finishline. Stripes at the side of the rear tyre were the silent witnesses when the car was towed back to the winners circle.

A great win for Nataas and the whole Andersen Racing team as they are back in the championship race now. Nataas is in the lead with 164 points, with only six points behind Horto in second and a very strong Neergaard 15 point behind in third. What a championship race this is going to be!

Timo Lehtimäki

Anita Mäkelä - ready to run


Neergaard on hos way back to the pits