Pro Modified - Review Round #2 2014
The resurfaced track provided a big challenge for the Pro Mod teams and whereas some managed to find workable setups, two of the normally fastest teams did not.. 
(Full results provided further down this page)

.. Reigning champion Michael Gullqvist and crew was one of the teams who was struggling. The best try during qualifications resulted in a 6th place and the ET 6.60 is something I think we will not have to get used to. Gullqvist met Roger Johansson in round #1 of eliminations and lost. Johansson´s winning time of 6.28 to Gullqvists 7.04 (he did not go for it when the traction wasn´t there) was an odd start to the eliminations. Roger Johansson and crew managed to run consistent during tricky circumstances, which I gather was especially crucial during this event where it stood clear early on that no record level of performance was possible (the track will I think be great when the new surface has aged a bit, but just not at this event).


Gullqvist guided back after the burnout by mechanic Stefan Pettersson


Also team Marc Meihuizen from the Netherlands did not get in sync with the track at this event and Marc was the one outside the elimination ladder after session #4 of qualifying. 


Robert Joosten and the Pro Dutch team did qualify but lost first round to Tami Brander.


Mats Eriksson & crew had a hectic time to get the car ready in time for the Nitro Nationals, after having hit the barrier at Santa Pod. The body still needs some painting, but good to see team ME Racing assisted in tuning by pro Adam Flamholc at Alastaro, where Mats lost a pretty tight race to Mattias Wulcan in round 1.


Tami Brander & crew who are the true veterans in the class managed the track well, but their competition ended in the semi-final where team Wulcan was a too tough contender. 

Mattias Wulcan - winner at Alastaro

Sweden´s Mattias Wulcan and crew truly impressed at this event. I will leave it unsaid if they had a tiny bit of luck that the setup they had chosen for session #1 was good enough to get the car down the track (only Wulcan and Brander did), and gave them something to work from, but if that was the case it is still a difficult job to adjust in between runs and the new track and heat did not make it easier. Wulcan himself referred to his tuner Pelle as "the wizard" and the combination of Mattias driving and some tuning magic was obviously successful!

Wulcan was low qualifier at 6.25, took out Mats Eriksson in round one and won a nice side by side race against Tami Brander in the semi-final. Wulcan´s opponent in the final was to be Roger Johansson, also from Sweden. 


Johansson qualified 3rd quickest at 6.35 and after defeating Michael Gullqvist in the quarter finals, Tero Laukkanen was next in line and in the finals Johansson gave Wulcan a good match, but lost.

Wulcan and Johansson both consistent over the event and worthy finalists. 


Tero Laukkanen

Leaving Alastaro the FIA Championship points
standings have Wulcan in the lead at 139 points, followed by Roger Johansson 115 and Tero Laukkanen third at 86. As round #1 of the championship rained out at Santa Pod, UK in May only a few points was at stake there. It is rare to find last years champion Michael Gullqvist in 5th place (currently at 75 points).

See the full FIA Championship points table under a separate headline.


Mattias Wulcan (left) and Roger Johansson in the winners circle at Alastaro

RESULTS - QUALIFYING:
                                                                                                           Best

                                                              ET        MPH     Km/H     Km/h

1.      Mattias Wulcan             SVE         6.256    228.71    368,08    369,20
2.      Bruno Bader                 SUI          6.340    229.94    370,05              
3.      Roger Johansson         SVE          6.351    232.14    373,59              
4.      Tami Brander               FIN           6.366    224.60    361,46              
5.      Robert Joosten            NED          6.415    230.24    370,53              
6.      Michael Gullqvist          SVE          6.600    239.23    385,01              
7.      Tero Laukkanen           FIN          6.800    215.36    346,59             
8.      Mats Eriksson               SVE         6.964    227.21    365,66              

         Alternate:
9.      Marc Meihuizen            NED         7.203    227.33    365,85                               

         Withdrawn entries:
         Jari Parén                     FIN

ELIMINATIONS:

Round 1:

Tami Brander 6.625, 353,27-219.51 def. Robert Joosten 20.310, 38,61-23.99
Tero Laukkanen 6.634, 365,39-227.04 def. Bruno Bader 6.631, 359,05-223.10
Roger Johansson 6.289, 374,45-232.67 def. Michael Gullqvist 7.043, 324,31-201.52
Mattias Wulcan 6.467, 354,82-220.47 def. Mats Eriksson 6.529, 376,01-233.64

 Semi-finals:

Mattias Wulcan 6.225, 382,46-237.65 def. Tami Brander 6.353, 370,05-229.94
Roger Johansson 6.361, 374,36-232.62 def. Tero Laukkanen 7.104, 257,76-160.16 

Final:

Mattias Wulcan 6.229, 368,55-229.01 def. Roger Johansson 7.443, 218,46-135.74

Winner:  Mattias Wulcan, SWE

Low Elapsed Time of the Event:
6.225sec. – Mattias Wulcan (semi-final)

Top Speed of the Event:
385,01km/h/239.23mph – Michael Gullqvist (Q4)

      
Tami Brander, Finland (near lane) and Bruno Bader from Switzerland
during the qualifications at Alastaro 

Text: Åsa Kinnemar
Statistics: Robin Jackson, with thanks to Eurodragster.com
Photos: Lena Perés, Åsa Kinnemar 

This article is part of the Speedgroup Club Europe Online July Newsletter Review Alastaro 2014

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