FIA/UEM European Drag Racing Championships, The Main Event, Santa Pod Raceway, England

Words and pictures Ivan Sansom & Rose Hughes
Thanks to TSI Timers (Europe) for access to the timing data

Unbroken sunshine, baking hot conditions, record temperatures for the time of year, all of these came to a halt on the Saturday of the Main Event washing out the first day of professional qualifying at the FIA season opener, and Sunday will also be remembered as the never ending day when so many incidents (power cut, tree chopping, oildowns) resulted in a six hour first session and prevented the running of a hoped for third session. Still, by the conclusion of eliminations on the holiday Monday, what a race it was with drama galore and stunning performances, and not the little matter of the appearance of the R2B2 squad with Melanie Troxel racing in FIA Pro Modified demonstrating just how much attention European drag racing is now getting on a world stage. Speaking with a couple of crewchiefs after the event it was clear that the track had more bite than they were expecting, and the loss of two qualifying sessions caused a few upsets and not the tracktime they really needed to get dialed-in, but expectations were for 4.5s from the fuel cars (if we stay at 1320 feet for the fuel cars) and 5.8s from the Pro Mods if conditions hold when the tour returns to Santa Pod in September.

FIA Top Fuel Dragster

After a couple of seasons running on the NHRA tour, Urs Erbacher made a dramatic return to ‘home’ turf heading the seven car field (it would have been eight but for Janne Ahonen’s mount blowing up on a restart in the first qualifying session) with a nice and clean 4.754/319.31mph blast on Sunday evening; the TS being better than Erbacher’s own European speed record set back in 2006. After an early click off on his first round bye, the Swiss driver carded a 4.785/278 to defeat Micke Kågered in the semifinals (the incrementals suggesting a low seventy on a full pull) and a 4.785 that easily covered Risto Poutiainen to take the event win and reset the Euro speed record at 314.87mph. “We’re very happy, only burnt one piston all weekend, and if this is the last time over a quarter mile I’ll keep the record until I’m an old man!” laughed Erbacher post race. With the persistent rumours of 1000 foot becoming the norm in Europe for Top Fuel in the near future he might get his wish, but here’s hoping we still get to see the nitro burners running out the back door for years to come.