A win at the NitrOlympX is special. With 50000 spectators in the immense Motodrome grandstands all Top Fuel drivers want to shine. But this year there is more than a win only. Who will take the lead in the championship? Risto Poutiainen and Urs Erbacher both come to Hockenheim with 195 point at their credit and want to go to the European Finals as the number one.



After 1000 foot races at Alastaro and Mantorp Park it’s back to the traditional Quartermile. Last years fourth Hockenheim qualifying session was a thriller with Stig Neergaard taking the number one position and Anita Mäkelä bumped out in the last run by Janne Ahonen with a margin of 0.006sec. In eliminations Andy Carter and his Andersen Racing did an excellent job. The Lucas driver won the race and claimed the title with the Euro Finals still to come.

But one thing is for sure this time, Carter will not claim the title at Hockenheim and the Top Fuel championship 2010 will be decided at the last race of the season, the European Finals at Santa Pod. At Mantorp Park Urs Erbacher could make up the one point difference between him and leader Risto Poutiainen so both drivers come to Hockenheim with 195 point at their credit. For Erbacher the NitrOlympX is in many ways a very important race. It’s not far from his home base in Switzerland and as usual many sponsors and VIP’s will be invited so see him race down the Rico Anthes Quatermile. But under pressure the fan favourite is at his best. Poutiainen and the Rune Fjeld team did a great job so far this season. Good qualifications and two runner-up positions gave the Fin the lead in the championship and last year Poutiainen was finalist at Hockenheim.

In the number three spot of the championship two drivers with the same number of points too. With her perfect Veidec Festival number one qualifying position Anita Mäkelä made up ground and has 131 points, exactly the same as Alastaro winner Timo Lethimäki, the surprise of the season so far. If Mäkelä shows the same form as she did at Mantorp Park she can go for the win. But the same can be said for Lethimäki who did so well in the two races so far this season. Reigning champion Carter is down in fifth with 124 point and will do everything he can to still have a change to win another title at the Euro Finals. It will be difficult but strange things can happen when the Lucas driver and the Andersens are back at speed as they showed at Mantorp. Jöran Persåker will team up with Stig Neergaard again. After the rain out at the Veidec Festival the two want to make more runs and show what they are capable off.

After a frustrating home race at Mantorp, Micke Kagered hopes all the mechanical problems are over now and he left all the bad luck of the season behind. A big fire made it impossible to improve his position so a ‘did not qualify’ was his. Last year the Swede made a strong comeback at Hockenheim, took the number three qualifying position and advanced to the semi finals. That’s what he will be aiming for at least. Last but not least the two Fins Janne Ahonen and Jari Halinen. The Finnish ski jumper, multiple winner of the Four Hills Tournament is a hero in Germany and will be in the spotlight all weekend. Halinen did not qualify at Mantorp and will do everything he can to get into the eliminations this time. With ten high quality combinations for eight spots in eliminations qualifying will be great again.



But the NitrOlympX has something extra for the Top Fuel drivers. Again the Top Fuel drivers will be the stars of the traditional Hockenheim Nightshow. With at least 50000 spectators in the grandstands they will run down the Rico Anthes Quartermile with huge nitroflames at their back. The crowd will go wild. Although it’s not an official qualifying session the Top Fuel drivers will try to run great numbers and become the fan favourite.



For Tommi Haapanen the Nightshow is very special because for the first time this year he will make a run in Anita’s car. Of course Urs Erbacher will make the show in front of all his fans. Other Nightshow drivers will be Andy Carter, Stig Neergaard, Micke Kagered, and Timo Lehtimäki.