Speedgroup Club Europe

Track time is what the teams need to sort out their new combinations. When the Alastaro track can hold all the power the Top Fuelers produce, it will be a close fight, as Santa Pod already proved European records will fall this season. And with eleven entries the teams can’t hide in qualifying and will have to do the best they can to qualify for the eight car field. This will see great competition and of course the race everybody (and especially the home crowd) is hoping for, is the husband and wife confrontation Tommi Haapanen/Anita Mäkelä.

But man to beat will be reigning champion Thomas Nataas, the number one qualifier at Santa Pod with a stunning 3.91 sec. Crew chiefs and team owners Per and Karsten Andersen once again proved they don’t need much time to sort out a new combination. No doubt they can do it again on the new Alastaro track.

Anita Mäkelä has the number two on the (new) car and was also number two qualifier at Santa Pod. The Finnish fan favourite was very happy with her new car and the team will only need a few more runs to break into the 3-seconds. Very special of course is the fact that husband Tommi Haapanen will drive Anita’s car from last year at their home race. Of course the team will focus on championship contender Anita, but you never know, maybe they are already dreaming about a husband and wife final. For sure the fans will like that too and if it happens, the Alastaro race can make international headlines.

Duncan Micallef will have the longest flight of all to the Alastaro race. The Maltese was a strong number five qualifier in England and in his first full season the Rune Fjeld Motorsport-driver can surprise.

Like at Santa Pod Erbacher Racing will have both cars in Finland.

Urs Erbacher

Multiple champion Urs Erbacher was not that happy with his number four qualifying position at the first race as the only thing he is aiming for is number one, be the fastest and win races and another championship. Only 19-year old Noah Stutz did a good job at Santa Pod but also suffered engine damage. The team sorted out the problems and is well prepared for the Finnish race.

Top Fuel Dragster - Preview Round #2 2014 Only one day of qualifying at Santa Pod was enough to see how competitive Top Fuel is this season. At Alastaro the teams hope to have four rounds of qualifying and the first eliminations of the season. But with eleven (!) entries for an eight car field qualifying will be exciting and a race on its own. With five Finns the home crowd will have their favourites to cheer about. Track time is what the teams need to sort out their new combinations. When the Alastaro track can hold all the power the Top Fuelers produce, it will be a close fight, as Santa Pod already proved European records will fall this season. And with eleven entries the teams can’t hide in qualifying and will have to do the best they can to qualify for the eight car field. This will see great competition and of course the race everybody (and especially the home crowd) is hoping for, is the husband and wife confrontation Tommi Haapanen/Anita Mäkelä. But man to beat will be reigning champion Thomas Nataas, the number one qualifier at Santa Pod with a stunning 3.91 sec. Crew chiefs and team owners Per and Karsten Andersen once again proved they don’t need much time to sort out a new combination. No doubt they can do it again on the new Alastaro track. Anita Mäkelä has the number two on the (new) car and was also number two qualifier at Santa Pod. The Finnish fan favourite was very happy with her new car and the team will only need a few more runs to break into the 3-seconds. Very special of course is the fact that husband Tommi Haapanen will drive Anita’s car from last year at their home race. Of course the team will focus on championship contender Anita, but you never know, maybe they are already dreaming about a husband and wife final. For sure the fans will like that too and if it happens, the Alastaro race can make international headlines. Duncan Micallef will have the longest flight of all to the Alastaro race. The Maltese was a strong number five qualifier in England and in his first full season the Rune Fjeld Motorsport-driver can surprise. Like at Santa Pod Erbacher Racing will have both cars in Finland. Urs Erbacher Multiple champion Urs Erbacher was not that happy with his number four qualifying position at the first race as the only thing he is aiming for is number one, be the fastest and win races and another championship. Only 19-year old Noah Stutz did a good job at Santa Pod but also suffered engine damage. The team sorted out the problems and is well prepared for the Finnish race.	Top Fuel pilot Anita Mäkelä and crew chief and husband Tommi Haapanen will compete against each other at Alastaro! Jari Halinen, Antti Horto and Timo Lehtimäki bring the number of Finns at Alastaro up to five! Halinen will be the stand in for Chris Andrews again. As everybody will remember the English Lucas Oil-driver dislocated his shoulder when he fell from the trailer at Santa Pod. Horto, a front runner last year, will make his season debut in the Rune Fjeld Motorsport car Tethys drove in England. The young Finn can be fast from the beginning as he won’t need time to get used to the car. A season debut too for Lehtimäki and it won’t be the first time he surprises at his home track. Lehtimäki Stig Neergaard was the number three qualifier in England, was very happy with his new car too and will do everything he can to beat Nataas and all the Finns to be the number one qualifier and win the race. Neergaard Last but nog least Micke Kågered. The Swede made his first runs with the new Bahco Express at Santa Pod and was very happy with the handling of his new car. It was a good starting point for the team and at Alastaro they will try to make the next step to the first half of the elimination ladder. The BAHCO Express Dragster
Anita Mäkelä - she is THE favourite driver all categories with the Finnish crowd
Text: Remco Scheelings Photos: Remco Scheelings & Lena Perés This article is part of the Speedgroup Club Europe Online Newsletter June 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