A second consecutive race win and FIA European Top Fuel title for Thomas Nataas at the European Finals. After dominating the Tierp Arena event, the Andersen Racing driver took the title in style with a number one qualifying position, another win and European record. For Per and Karsten Andersen it was their eight FIA Top Fuel crown. With his semi-final finish at Santa Pod Micke Kågered ended the season as the number two in the championship, with Urs Erbacher and Duncan Micallef with both 245 points sharing the number three position.


Nataas

Thomas Nataas only had to qualify and stage in the first round at Santa Pod to extend his FIA European Top Fuel title, but as expected ‘Batman’ and Per and Karsten Andersen wanted to end the season in style. Behind the Norwegian with only 34 points between number two and six, Alastaro winner Stig Neergaard, Hockenheim winner Micke Kågered, the absent Anita Mäkelä, Duncan Micallef and Urs Erbacher, the race for the runner-up position was still open.

With Thomas Nataas’ Round 1/Main Event 3.91 sec. qualifying run in mind and the perfect weather conditions at Santa Pod, qualifying already promised to be exciting. The first one to show his form was Duncan Micallef, as the Maltese set a new personal best with 4.06 to take the provisional number one spot. Problems with the blower stopped Nataas and even bigger problems for Tethys as the throttle stop came off during the burn out and the engine over revved, causing so much damage during the run, the Round 1 Top Fuel rookie had to skip the other qualifying runs. The second round of qualifying was scheduled Friday evening in the dark and what a success that was with the header flames lighten the sky.


Andrews

In the first night run Chris Andrews gave the massive crowd something to cheer about. With an impressive 3.97 sec., Andrews’ first ever 3-second run, the Lucas Oil driver took over the number one position. Nataas improved to 4.03 sec. and was second, but even more impressive was his 315.51 mph, the fastest 1000-foot speed ever recorded in Europa.


Tethys


Neergard with wife. Stig was taken out in round #1 by Micke Kågered


Duncan Micallef ends on the same points as Urs Erbacher in the 2014 FIA European Drag Racing Championship

On the podium at Santa Pod Raceway - Thomas Nataas and Urs Erbacher

In Saturday qualifying Per and Karsten Andersen stepped up and with a storming 3.949 sec. Nataas took over the number one qualifying position. This time the speed was 316.40 mph and so another European best ever and official European record for the Norwegian after his Tierp record runs. With his Friday evening run Andrews stayed in the number two position. Micallef in the Rune Fjeld Motorsport car impressed again in run three. A 4.02 sec. was his next personal best and the Maltese lion was the number three qualifier.


Neergaard

Problems in two of the three runs for Stig Neergaard and the Dane was fourth with 4.10 sec.. The same could be said about Micke Kågered as the Bahco Express fueler could only do one proper run in 4.25 sec. and was fifth. Behind Tethys in seventh position Urs Erbacher. The multiple champion had one of his worst qualifying’s ever, with an oil leak, tyre shake, burst plates going off and clutch issues. The Swiss was the only one to make a fourth run, as after his Saturday afternoon run rain washed out the fourth Top Fuel qualifying session.

That a bad qualifying is not a bad elimination, showed the first round. Kågered had to face Neergaard, the number two in the championship. Both drivers hit problems, but in a great 4.11 sec. the Swede took the win light, was in the semi-finals and passed the Dane in the championship. Another upset in the run Andrews Erbacher. The number two qualifier hit tyre shake and his chutes deployed, while Erbacher showed a much better form and crossed the finish line in 4.19 sec. his best of the weekend. Micallef proved his 4.028 qualifying effort was no incident and 4.027 sec was another personal best, his third of the weekend and enough to defeat Tethys. Nataas only had to stage in his bye run to extend his FIA Top Fuel title and when doing so, the second consecutive title was there. As Nataas went up in smoke half-track a 4.99 sec was the best he could do.


Kågered

In the first semi-final Nataas had to face Kågered. With a much better reaction time the Andersen Racing driver took the lead, but was hit by traction problems and got sideways. But Nataas showed his driving skills and stayed with it. Although Kågered was faster in the run (4.30 to 4.33 sec for Nataas) the champion took the holeshot win by 0.018 sec. Another spectacular semi-final in the confrontation Micallef Erbacher. With a much better start the Maltese was far ahead, but then suffered a massive engine explosion, handing the win to Erbacher.

In the final Nataas and Andersen Racing wanted to take the title in style and so they did. A better reaction time and a 4.02 sec. was enough to defeat Erbacher (4.28 sec.), who was already happy to be in the final after his bad qualifying form. For Nataas after his Tierp Arena success it was his second consecutive win, European record and FIA European Top Fuel title. Team owners and tuners Per and Karsten Andersen could celebrate their eight FIA European Top Fuel title.

Micallef

As Erbacher lost the final and Kågered and Micallef both went out in the semi-final, the Swede is the runner-up in the 2014 FIA European Top Fuel Championship. With both 245 points Erbacher and Micallef were third, both passing Neergaard (fifth) and Mäkelä (sixth).

Link to results from the timing system:

- ELIMINATION LADDER
- QUALIFICATION RANKINGS

Courtesy of TSI Timers (Europe) and Santa Pod Raceway