Approximately 345 pro and sportsman teams have entered for this years' VEIDEC Festival. As well as attracting Europe's best teams to all of the FIA Car and UEM Bike classes, the event is also a round of the Nordic Drag Racing Series for Sportsman racers. Thursday is sportsman qualifying day, the FIA/UEM Pro categories start qualifying on Friday and continues on Saturday. The Eliminations are on Sunday, August 1st. A preliminary schedule of events can be found towards the end of this newsletter.

Media representatives are invited to Mantorp Park on Wednesday 28th July. Press officer L-O Jonsson says that media activities will include a press conference at 12.30 and after that an hour of track time is set aside for show runs by selected teams and there will also be an opportunity for invited journalists to enjoy a once in a lifetime ride in the Eagle Racing two seat dragster. The teams selected by the organizer to be included in the media activities are;



Top Fuel drivers Micke Kågered (who also is a local celebrity at this, his home track) and Janne Ahonen (also known for being a famous ski-jumper in his home country Finland). Representing the bike riders will be Pro Stock Bike racer Ulf Ögge (reigning champion and championship leader) accompanied by promising young rider Kalle Lyrén from VEIDEC Racing. Also present will be reigning Pro Mod champion and motor prince award winner Mats Eriksson and the New Generation Pro Mod team Lindberg, who leads the championship after the last race. Recent event winner and Pro Stock car championship leader Micke Malmgren is also part of the action, as is Supertwin rider Job Heezen from the Netherlands (current points leader of a strong class that has a field of 21 entrants for 8 spots in the elimination ladder).

Don´t miss reading the article "Talking with the organizer" to find out what VEIDEC Festival project leader Emelie Carlswärd has to say about this weekend's event and about the improvements to the track that have made for this year.



The new timing system at Mantorp Park is described in a short item in this newsletter (in the 'Technical stuff' section). Lelle Olsson of system manufacturer Time Tree outlines the potential of the system for the future and how it will improve the experience at Mantorp Park for the spectators, teams and those watching on the web when the race is on next week.

Speedgroup, the championship administrators, have worked in co-operation with the event organizer to resolve all kinds of questions from practical on site matters, administration and media matters.



Facilities offered at the information centre will include providing the spectators with updated results throughout the event, answering any questions, and gathering drivers and riders for scheduled autograph sessions every race day. Speedgroup are also going to provide spectators with guided pit walks to visit and get briefed by selected teams and get informed about the FIA/UEM Championship and European drag racing at the highest level. The pit walks are made possible through a concept that Speedgroup and 3M/Peltor have devised. Products provided by 3M/Peltor are often chosen by the teams to manage communication in the somewhat noisy environment that the car and bike pro pits can be at times. At the information centre selected hearing protection products from 3M/Peltor will also be available. Equipment to make the information centre operational is provided by TPM Trailer and Storbildsfabriken.


Photo: 3M Peltor motorsport manager Patrik Andersson,
technical solutions expert Daniel Vickman and Speedgroup coordinator
Åsa Kinnemar have cooperated around the pit walk concept.

The dedicated staff at Eurodragster.com will be reporting live from the control tower during the entire event and the new timing system is connected to a webcam, offering live track coverage (pictures and commentator sound) online at www.mantorppark.com

Championship administrator Speedgroup´s website is at www.speedgroup.eu . Results and points standings are also posted there after the event and information about forthcoming events and many other championship matters can also be found there.

Everyone is very welcome to follow the action live at Mantorp Park or online from any corner of the world.