Speedgroup Club Europe

Sweden and the UK are the countries in Europe where most FIA Pro Mod teams reside. A strong National championship in the UK and a far distance to travel to Finland considering (cost and time) I think explains the fact none of the UK teams will compete at the upcoming event.

The fact it´s far from home does not seem to bother Bruno Bader from Switzerland. He has been runner up and 3rd place in the FIA Championship a few times but miss a European Champions title still. Baders trade mark is that he can manage all tracks and be consistent which often pays off and takes him far in the competitions. Bader is currently 4th in the Championship points ranking.

Bruno Bader

photo: Robert Joosten guided into pre stage position at last years Nitro Nationals.

In third position spot we find Dutch driver Robert Joosten. At last years event Joosten made it to the semi final but lost it to Mats Eriksson. It would be great and deserving to see Joosten in a final soon and why not at Alastaro?

Currently ranked #2 is last years European Champion Michael Gullqvist, Sweden. The Alastaro track was not his lucky track last year. After having qualified number one (the only car under 6 seconds) Gullqvist had traction problems and lost in the semi-final to Meihuizen. Gullqvist holds the European ET record and is always capable to perform in the 5 second range, which still is so magic.. so let´s hope track conditions allow Gullqvist and crew to perform to their fullest at this years Nitro Nationals!

Mattias Wulcan, Sweden and the 2013 Championship runner up is currently "only" 8th in the points standings. But Mattias and his "Wulcano Racing" crew showed they are "good to go" during the 1/8 mile race in Malmö Sweden in June where Mattias ran 3.97 sec/310 km/h. It´s not a matter of capacity for this team, just to figure out the track..

Tami Brander, is a skilled driver with a competitive team who has been in the class since 2000 and before that competed successfully in the FIA Pro Stock class. Tami´s personal best ET is currently 6.03 sec. and I have no doubt that the team will have capacity to join the 5 second club this season. The questions is just, will it be at Alastaro..

Pro Modified - Preview Round #2 2014 The entry list in Pro Modified for round #2 in Finland has 10 drivers on it and they come from Finland, Sweden and the Netherlands. Sweden and the UK are the countries in Europe where most FIA Pro Mod teams reside. A strong National championship in the UK and a far distance to travel to Finland considering (cost and time) I think explains the fact none of the UK teams will compete at the upcoming event. The fact it´s far from home does not seem to bother Bruno Bader from Switzerland. He has been runner up and 3rd place in the FIA Championship a few times but miss a European Champions title still. Baders trade mark is that he can manage all tracks and be consistent which often pays off and takes him far in the competitions. Bader is currently 4th in the Championship points ranking. Bruno Bader photo: Robert Joosten guided into pre stage position at last years Nitro Nationals. In third position spot we find Dutch driver Robert Joosten. At last years event Joosten made it to the semi final but lost it to Mats Eriksson. It would be great and deserving to see Joosten in a final soon and why not at Alastaro? Currently ranked #2 is last years European Champion Michael Gullqvist, Sweden. The Alastaro track was not his lucky track last year. After having qualified number one (the only car under 6 seconds) Gullqvist had traction problems and lost in the semi-final to Meihuizen. Gullqvist holds the European ET record and is always capable to perform in the 5 second range, which still is so magic.. so let´s hope track conditions allow Gullqvist and crew to perform to their fullest at this years Nitro Nationals! Mattias Wulcan, Sweden and the 2013 Championship runner up is currently "only" 8th in the points standings. But Mattias and his "Wulcano Racing" crew showed they are "good to go" during the 1/8 mile race in Malmö Sweden in June where Mattias ran 3.97 sec/310 km/h. It´s not a matter of capacity for this team, just to figure out the track.. Tami Brander, is a skilled driver with a competitive team who has been in the class since 2000 and before that competed successfully in the FIA Pro Stock class. Tami´s personal best ET is currently 6.03 sec. and I have no doubt that the team will have capacity to join the 5 second club this season. The questions is just, will it be at Alastaro..	Marc Meihuizen and team MPM Oil In lead of the FIA Championship entering the Alastaro race is Marc Meihuizen, and team MPM Oil from the Netherlands. He won the same event in 2013 and possible have some useful data from it and setups to try out to start off the event. Team Meihuizen is a serious event winner candidate if they can stay consistent at the same high level of performance they have spoilt us with. The Finnish driver Tero Laukkanen, started in FIA competition 2012 and is assisted by a skilled crew including former Pro Mod driver Kristian Nyström who sold the car a few years back. Laukkanen´s turbo charged car impressed a great deal when it appeared at Tierp Arena last season and performed speeds that many can only dream of. What about 400.59 km/h.. (with a current personal best ET of 6.21 sec) Laukkanen was at Santa Pod for round #1 and is currently 9th ranked in the point standings. No doubt that will have improved by the end of this weekend! Jari Parén, Finland is also a Pro Modified veteran having been in the class since 2001. At last years Nitro Nationals he qualified no 9th, just outside the 8 car elimination ladder. With a PB at 6.60 sec. it may seem tough get far in the competition. But speaking for Parén is the fact he knows the Alastaro track inside out and IF the new track surface is not record quick, I should say team Parén stands a good chance to compete among the top 8 in this Sundays eliminations. Johansson Roger, Sweden is 6th in the FIA Championship points ranking. A personal best ET so far at 6.02 sec and performed a 6.12 at Santa Pod in May which I consider a sign that the team has things in order and will likely be a top contender at Alastaro. Last but not least, 2013 Nitro Nationals runner-up Mats Eriksson, Sweden and his crew have had the toughest possible start to the 2014 championship season. An incident and crash into the barrier during the initial FIA event at Santa Pod in May, means the team have been working 7 days and evenings a week, to get back into FIA competition. Luckily Mats and son Lars-Göran who operate tghe ME Racing Services business are certified chassis builders and have a modern and well equipped work shop to operate out from. The ME Racing/ Green Goblin team is assisted this season with the tining by Adam Flamholc. Flamholc who compete in the EDRS Top Doorslammer class in Europe and combine it with competition in the US in Pro Modified. And assist Eriksson.. Fingers crossed it will all work out well at Alastaro, which is the first event the team enter after the incident at Santa Pod.
2013 years European Champion set a new track record at Sundsvall Raceway at the recent Swedish Championship event last weekend. 5.98 sec at 391 km/h (crew member Rickard Lundin also pictured).
Text: Åsa Kinnemar Photos: Lena Perés, Åsa Kinnemar & Remco Scheelings This article is part of the Speedgroup Club Europe Online July Newsletter Preview Alastaro 2014 Published by Speedgroup www.speedgroup.eu All material, text, images and logtypes are the property of Speedgroup AB Any use of the above requires permission from Speedgroup email: asa.kinnemar@speedgroup.eu © Speedgroup 2014