In 2009 the master of the Mantorp track during qualifying was Finnish driver Risto Poutiainen, running 4.05 seconds at a speed of 477 km/h. At the recent FIA event at Alastaro Pouitianen was also quickest, with 4.17 sec/449 km/h over the same distance.

This year the Mantorp conditions will certainly be different, not least because of the recent resurfacing of the first 150 meters of the track with fresh Asphalt. The question for the Top Fuel teams is will it be for the better or the worse, compared to last year?



Mantorp Park is the home track for Micke Kågered, with his home and workshop located only 45minutes from it. This means a lot of tension and focus on Micke, not least from his sponsors visiting the event. Micke was on the bump spot last year and taken out of competition in the quarter finals by Poutiainen. Team Kågered has reportedly found the reason for their engine damage problems in Finland and arrive to Mantorp hoping to have cured them. When Micke's car run a full pass there is no doubt that it can match the performance of anyone in the other lane.

Another Swedish entrant at Mantorp, is Jöran Persåker who starts his season here this weekend and is also entered in the Pro Mod class. It will be Jörans first event in Top Fuel for the season. In 2009 he only competed in Pro Mod at Mantorp and will have to start with a blank sheet for his T/F tuning setup. He may be able to share knowledge with his team mate Stig Neergard. In 2009 Stig posted the 4th quickest time during qualifications with 4.12 sec. but suffered an early departure in competition through pulling a red-light in the quarter finals.

Another Swede who has been away from the top fuel circus since 2006 and makes a welcome, albeit temporary, comeback is Håkan Fällström. He will be driving the Nitrobear top fuel dragster owned by Stockholm-based Björn Mårtensson. Mårtensson has plans to take his top fuel license in due course, but for now he is teaming up with veteran driver Fällström to get the car out on track and help learn the set-up.

Reigning Champion Andy Carter has not had much success so far this season and team Andersen is looking to score points to even the account with his rivals and get back into contention in the campaign to retain his title.



Main Event winner Urs Erbacher couldn't repeat that performance at Alastaro. He's a very determined racer with a highly motivated team, looking to reverse that trend and justify his title of "King of Nitro".

Finnish drivers Anita Mäkelä, Janne Ahonen and Jari Halinen did not stand out at their home track, qualifying 4-7th at Alastaro and all three were out of complementation by the quarter finals. There's no doubt that they will all arrive at Mantorp with the aim of winning rounds.



Last but not least, Alastaro winner Timo Lehtimäki did everything right at the last round, tuning the car without any outside help. Crew chief Ulf Hultholm and Timo will face a new challenge at Mantorp Park and the pressure of aiming for two consecutive wins. With new circumstances and a different track, can they raise their game and deliver the goods?

Poutiainen and Erbacher are ahead in the points standings with Lehtimäki, Kågered, Mäkelä and Carter all chasing from a distance but there are still rounds to go and points to be won. They are far from defeated, the battle for the Top Fuel championship title is still wide open.