FIA Euro-Zone Update from Sweden

There was no paucity of any kind of numbers at the penultimate round of the FIA European Drag Racing Championships held at the Tierp Arena, in Sweden in late August. Records fell like skittles as qualifying and eliminations continued in the fine weather for the 2013 Scandinavian Internationals….

Top Fuel — saw Finn Anita Mäkelä take pole with a fine 3.974/302 the only car in the three second zone until eliminations. Mäkelä kept her game up and running defeating Switzerland’s Urs Erbacher 3.968/300 to a losing 4.246/272 in round one then took out fellow countryman Jari Halinen, 3.990/303 to a shut off. Meeting Mäkelä for the trophy would be point leader, Norway’s Thomas Nataas who had defeated Patrik Pers in the opening round, 4.007/304 to a close 4.063/296. It was the turn of Denmark’s Stig Neergaard to come under the Norwegian hammer as Nataas ran a winning 3.965 at a best 1000 foot speed of 310.12 to the charging 4.009/298 try. The final pitted Anita Mäkelä against Thomas Nataas and it was Nataas that pumped up his point lead with a 3.982/306 that beat Mäkelä’s game try of 4.027/292.

Top Fuel winner Thomas Nataas is from Norway

Top Methanol Dragster — had three runners, the most of this season, it was led by Sweden’s Jonny Lagg with a 5.464/266, he then went on to win after a bye in round one then the defeat of Norway’s Paul Ingar Udtian in the final, a 5.597/259 easily seeing off the 6.208/225.

Top Methanol Funny Car — is a real battle of Sweden’s finest as the three main contenders slugged it out with Jonnie Lindberg sat on pole with a stunning 5.437/268.68 a phenomenal speed backed up during eliminations. However, it was Lindberg’s other two adversaries that ended up in the final, Adam Flamholc and Leif Andréasson. Flamholc who races in Pro Mod in the US and TMFC in Europe beat Belgium’s Danny Bellio in round one then took out the record setter Lindberg in round two with a 5.543/261 to a 5.620/266. Andréasson meanwhile, saw off Finn, Ari Pietilä then took out fellow countryman, Ulf Leanders in the semi, 5.534/259 to a 5.590/259. Adam Flamholc added to his point total by taking the final round win with a 5.520/263 as Andréasson shut off with problems.

Sweden’s premier TMFC racer Adam Flamholc was once again a winner

 Pro Mod — had a mammoth entry mainly as the many Scandinavian entries prefer to run in their own home series instead of the more expensive European one. Micke Gullqvist made it to pole with a record setting 5.872/248 then ploughed his way through a tough field to meet fellow Swede Mattias Wulcan in the final. Gullqvist’s victims included Anders Nilsson in one, Finland’s Tero Laukkanen in two followed by a 5.885/247 that beat Holland’s Robert Joosten’s 5.990/240. Wulcan made his way through with defeats of heavy hitter, Mats Eriksson in round one then Tami Brander’s 6.031/234 was bettered with a 5.970/244 before a semi final win over Niclas Andersson who no-showed. Micke Gullqvist managed another record as his 5.874 with a best ever speed of 249.29mph beat Mattias Wulcan’s 6.235/212 in the final.

Micke Gullqvist prevailed over a very large and competitive Pro Mod field

Pro Stock — was another Ålund, Lindström battle, with the former leading the pack with a 6.534/213.31 a new Euro speed record. Jimmy Ålund made his way to the inevitable final by way of wins over Jan Palmqvist in one, a 6.546/213.04 win as Michael Malmgren chased with a losing 6.660/208. Thomas Lindström got his ticket to the money run with wins over Jan Ericsson in round one then a 6.595/209 beat the retiring Micke Callin’s 6.695/208. It was all over for Lindström as Ålund got the numbers, a 6.558/212 to no recorded times.

Prolific Swedish Pro Stock racer Jimmy Ålund won again in convincing fashion

Posted by Roger Gorringe. www.nitroexposure.co.uk

Results courtesy of www.dragracing.eu