This event held in the "country of the thousand lakes", is included in the FIA European Drag Racing Championship & FIM Drag Bike Championship. It is round #3 in the FIA European Drag Racing Championship (cars) and the second round of the FIM Europe Drag Bike Championship. The event is also included in the EDRS European Drag Racing Series for some classes.

ENTRY LIST: see under a separate headline.

EVENT REPORTING:

www.eurodragster.com reports results continuously from the event in co-operation with FHRA and Speedgroup

Live web TV-broadcast pay per view
provided by organizer FHRA, which also report results in Finnish continuously via www.fhra.fi




SPEEDGROUP ON SITE:
The Speedgroup Representation on site include co-ordinator Åsa Kinnemar, Kristian Nyström our representative in Finland, Speedgroup´s managing director Michael Gullqvist (who also competes in FIA Pro Modified), editor and photographer Lena Perés and contingency program and service center assistant Aila Striem. In addition a number of fine associated editors and photographers. 

FACTS ABOUT ALASTARO RACEWAY can be found at www.alastarocircuit.fi


Championship Classes Preview:




photo: Thomas Naatas (Norway) in the Andersen Racing Top Fuel Dragster - they are currently in lead of the FIA Championship

FIA Top Fuel Dragster:
8 teams entered for an 8 car elimination ladder. Competition distance: 1000 foot
In Championship Points lead: Thomas Naatas (NOR)
Winner at the last event: Thomas Naatas (NOR)

Notes: A majority of the the  Top Fuel  Dragster teams in Europe have base in Finland and they normally contribute to attract a good crowd to this event. And they are competitive to say the least.. Mäkelä, Horto among the favourites to be on the podium, but Naatas and Neergaard are tough competitors who can win rounds and events anytime.

Major news for this event is that Chris Andrews will pilot the RF Motorsport dragster that Micke Kågered raced at the previous event at Tierp Arena and Risto Poutiainen piloted at Main Event, Santa Pod in May.

Micke Kågered is back in his own car at Alastaro. Poutiainen not entered.

Read more: Link to RF Motorsport press release with more information about Chris Andrews

photo: UK based driver Chris Andrews

And.. Don´t miss to read the separate article about Top Fuel Dragster pilot Antti Horto in this edition!

FIA Top Methanol Dragster:
1 team entered, Finnish driver Leivo Marko who is new  in the class

In Championship Points lead: Tethys (UK) driving för Dave Wilson Racing

Winner at the last event: - the class was not run at Sweden Internationals due to no entries.

Notes: The methanol dragster class is unfortunatley close to non existing this season. The economy in combination with a few drivers resigning (a few also state technical regulations as reasons for not competing) A few teams active, but not the extent that there can be a field and competition.

photo: The Alastaro race control tower is a significant landmark.


photo: Adam Flamholc (and Stephanie Milam in the far lane) - Top Methanol Funny Car

FIA Top Methanol Funny Car:
7 teams entered for an 8 car elimination ladder
In Championship Points lead: Adam Flamholc, 3 points ahead of Leif Andreasson
Winner at the last event: Adam Flamholc

Notes: This class has seen a boom this season both in number of teams and level of performance. The veteran Andreasson is still going strong, while the young, hungry teams with Jonny and Johan Lindberg and Adam Flamholc behind the wheels are doing anything they possibly can to chase podium positions and championship points.

Leanders Bros are behind as they did not enter at the season opening event at Santa Pod and have not had the opportunity to test new parts and different setup enough yet. Our guess is that when things fall into place, they will be competitive and consistent. Rookie Johnny Oksa is waiting to do his first full pass in competition at Alastaro (he has amazingly already run a 5-sec run during his first competition at Tierp)

It is also going to be interesting to follow Micke Larsson and crew, they have now established themselves and set a new personal best the previous event at Tierp. Let´s hope things continue to develop well for them. Ari Pietilä from Finland new in  the class also on the entry list at Alastaro.

And.. Don´t miss to read the separate article about Methanol Funny Car driver Johnny Oksa in this edition!


photo: Micke Gullqvist (Sweden) leads the Pro Mod championship

FIA Pro Modified:
9 teams entered

In Championship Points lead: Michael Gullqvist, well ahead of David Vegter who is in second place.

Winner at the last event: Urban Johansson (who is not entered at Alastaro)

Notes:  Pro Mod is the biggest class in the championship and the class with the most nationalities active. The central European and UK based teams have a very long distance to travel to Finland, something that is reflected on the entry list.

Although points leader Gullqvist has shown a high level of consistency and performance, there are a few others that have also really impressed lately; Mattias Wulcan, Marc Meihuizen and David Vegter have run quick enough ET:s to give Gullqvist a match at the Alastaro track ,which is said to be among the most challenging ones to master.

Mats Eriksson has won at Alastaro and performed better at Tierp at the last event than in a long time. One Finnish driver on the entry list, veteran Jari Parén who is a stable performer and can win rounds. Robert Joosten and the pro Dutch team ran quicker than they had before at the last event, we guess there is more to come from them still.


photo: Jimmy Ålund - championship leader Pro Stock

FIA Pro Stock:
11 teams entered for an 8 car elimination ladder, all teams are from Sweden

In Championship Points lead: Jimmy Ålund leads with 4 points before Thomas Lindström

Winner at the last event: Thomas Lindström (SWE)

Notes: So far it has been a battle between Ålund and Lindström for wins and records. But Michael Malmgren and Micke Callin (currently 3rd and 4th in the championship) must not be counted out. And Magnus Petersson who does his first season in the class, driving Ålund´s former car has shown impressive driving skills. At the tricky Alastaro track, where conditions can change fast we would not be suprised to see a few drivers stepping up to give Lindström and Ålund a tough match. 



EDRS European Drag Racing Series Sportsman classes run at FHRA Nitro Nationals:
- Stock Super Stock
- Super Comp
- Junior Dragster
- Super Gas Bike /9.50 bike
- Funny Bike