Entering the 3rd round of the FIA Championship we have Johan Lindberg from Sweden in clear points lead, 69 points ahead of Johnny Oksa, Finland. In third place Ari Pietilä. None of the Finnish drivers are on the entry list for the NitrOlympX, so the ranking will change with this event.

Leif Andreasson, Sweden enters the first event for the season. For different reasons Leif has been in standby mode, but with the intent to race at least to some extent this season. And what better way than to enter competition again than in the grand surrounding of the HockenheimRing venue. With the special atmosphere that can only be found there and with support of the many thousands of central European drag racing fans.

Danny Bellio, Belgium, Germany´s Jürgen Nagel and UK based Gareth Ellis are rejoining the championship competition again at Hockenheim after having stood out the last round in Finland.

An there is Johan Lindberg, who together with the Lindberg Bros crew do the full FIA tour of five events and in addition  compete with Jonnie´s car in the US at selected events.

Looking back..
Last year it was Jonnie Lindberg who qualified no 1 at Hockenheim with 5.62 sec. Leif Andreasson was not far behind at 5.65.

This time Johan Lindberg (who qualified at 5.63 last year) has warmed up at Tierp Arena two weeks before the NitrOlympX running 5.50 sec. flat. Johan won the 2013 NitrOlympX after having outrun Adam Flamholc Sweden in the final. Flamholc will be at Hockenheim too. But not as a driver this time. Flamholc is assisting Pro Mod driver Mats Eriksson with tuning this season with great success.

Ranking the competitors roughly Lindberg and Andreasson seems to have the advantage. Bellio has been performing in the mid 5.60´s as a best which was just what was needed at last years NitrOlympX (so beware). Ellis and Nagel have so far presented ET:s in the higher 5.70´s region. But, there is always the reaction time factor to consider. A tenth of a seconds advantage in performance can be gone if a driver does not manage a great light.

Not the biggest methanol funny car field we have seen at Hockenheim, but a tight and competitive bunch will make this class exciting to follow when the action starts on August 8th.

Check the results as the NitrOlympX proceeds via Eurodragster.com (link leads to the event coverage index page) also don´t miss the free live web-TV during Saturday and Sunday!