Eurodragster.com reports live from all European Championship races with detailed round-by-round real time coverage of qualifying and eliminations as well as timing data, illustrated pit notes and photo galleries. For coverage of the latest European Championship round visit www.eurodragster.com/live
 

The weekend was great, the weather was good and the track produced some fine runs from the bikes.

Santa Pod Raceway is Europe’s most famous dragstrip and hosts the first and last rounds of the FIA European Championship. For drag race fans in Europe and America, the UK track needs little introduction.

From the very first FIA European Drag Racing Championship in 1999 The Main Event has been the opening round of this high rated series. After a long winter drivers, teams and fans are all looking forward to the race. New cars and bikes will have their first outing and will all the hours in the workshop pay off? A new season is to start, important points for the championship can be gathered and everybody has to start from zero again.

Without doubt, Urs Erbacher is one of the most charismatic European drag racers of the last two decades. With three consecutive FIA European Top Methanol Funny Car titles to his credit, the Swiss driver stepped up to Top Fuel and grabbed that title in his second year of competition. The fan favourite’s next step was America where Urs reached the semi finals of the 2008 NHRA Finals at Pomona. But now he is back -- a man with only one mission: to regain the FIA European Top Fuel crown and to be the King of All again!

Per and Karsten Andersen started their own Top Fuel operation in 2006 and now have three FIA European Top Fuel Championships to their credit in just four seasons. After a second consecutive title in 2009 with Andy Carter driving, the Danish pair saw a dream come true with their ‘Andersen Racing Top Fuel Dream Tour 2009’ to NHRA’s races at Las Vegas and Pomona. Back home it’s now time to concentrate on FIA title defence and make it three in a row.

Jean Dulamon, the first French driver in FIA Pro Modified.
FIA Pro Modified welcomes a new driver from a country not yet represented in the championship. Frenchman Jean Dulamon will enter the series in a ’68 Camaro SS, acquired from the USA where the car won three NMCA Pro Street World Championships with driver Vinny Budano.

As reigning European Super Twin Top Gas champion Jesper Thiel takes up the challenge of one of the most prestigious European drag bike series, the UEM European Pro Stock Bike Championship. The combination of his talent, technical skills and a championship winning G2 Buell could make this Danish new kid on the block a force to be reckoned with.

Mixed feelings for David Vegter when talking about Santa Pod Raceway and the start of the new season. At his last visit to his favourite track, the 2009 Euro Finals, the Dutch Pro Modified driver was involved in a nasty accident that damaged his brand new ’67 Camaro so badly that he will have to miss the start of the new season.

‘Moving European Drag Racing Forward’ is the newest spin-off from MPM International Oil Company’s corporate motto, ‘Moving things forward’. Prominent for several years as main sponsor of Top Fuel star Lex Joon, plus Pro Modified and Super Twin teams, the Dutch oil company has now expanded its major commitment to European drag racing by joining the Speedgroup Contingency Program, supporting all five FIA Car and three UEM Bike classes.

Join the action and become member of Speedgroup Club Europe. As a fan of the fastest motor sport on earth you can be part of the FIA European Drag Racing Championship and UEM European Drag Bike Championship. Speedgroup Club Europe members will enjoy exclusive members-only benefits like the Speedgroup Club Europe newsletter... For only € 35,00 a year you can be a member of the Speedgroup Club Europe. Join now! Among the first fifty to register, championship track Mantorp Park give away two VIP-weekend passes for the oncoming Veidec Festival.

Rubber spots on his face, two taped temperature guns, a track-meter, binoculars, camera and intercom: Lanny Miglizzi looks like an American commando on the battlefield. Only a camouflage suit is missing, replaced by the green and white colours of Castrol Team Force. Where dragstrip traction is concerned, Lanny Miglizzi is the recognised authority.

Turner Motorsport will turn into a two-car team this season. In America the Turners bought the ex-Jeff Carroll Chevrolet Monte Carlo Top Methanol Funny Car. With Rob Turner behind the wheel the team will run the full FIA European Championship while brother and tuner Steve will take over the driving duties of their well-known Top Methanol Dragster. It’s a major undertaking for the small, family-owned team.