Local hero Janne Ahonen marked the 1st anniversary of gaining his Top Fuel licence with a solid qualifying effort in the Eagle Racing entry, a 5.271/263 avoiding getting bumped in the final session. The ski-jumping legend then secured his first round win over Rune Fjeld Motorsports team mate Thomas Nataas with a 5.186 over the Norwegian’s ailing 5.694 to send the crowd into raptures.
The other Finnish entry in Top Fuel didn’t quite have the same impact as the rookie Ahonen on the ladder. Tommi Haapanen couldn’t muster a run better than a 5.841, although not for want of trying, his final effort seeing the load pedal repeatedly buried in a valiant but smoky, and ultimately, vain effort to crack the bump spot.
FIA Pro Modified
One racer to benefit from the cessation of activities prior to the completion of the second round of Pro Modified was Andy Robinson. Gus qualified with a 6.348/215 to sit on top of the twenty car entry, and then defeated Tami Brander with a 6.308/223.04 to secure low ET points in the first round of eliminations. The separation of a wire suddenly slowed the Brit in his second round match up with Roger Johansson, but the loss won’t figure in the points when the race was called after the next pair, giving Robinson a 4 point lead over fellow countryman Danny Cockerill to defend for the rest of the season.
