FIA European Championship Finals, Santa Pod 4 - 7 Sept 2014

FIA European Championship Finals, Santa Pod 4 – 7 Sept 2014

September 19, 2014 Posted By Bill Pratt

2014 FIA European Drag Racing Championship, The Finals
Santa Pod Raceway UK 4th-7th September 2014
Words & Photos by Dick Parnham

The weather was fortunately good for the whole weekend and in this second year since the re-surfaced Santa Pod track was proving its value as new records and personal best performances were continuing to be set.

TOP FUEL DRAGSTER
Qualifying ( 1,000 Feet)

1/ Thomas Nataas 3.949 sec /316mph

2/ Chris Andrews 3.929 sec /290mph

3/ Duncan Micallef 4.028 sec /303mph

4/ Stig Neergaard 4.101 sec /254mph

5/ Micke Kagared 4.250 sec /279mph

6/ Tethys 4.677 sec /171mph

7/ Urs Urbacher 5.247 sec /142mph

The Eliminations started with Stig Neergaard’s hole shot over p but Stig’s tyre shake and sudden move to the left meant a shut down with Kagared taking the win in 4.111 sec/ 280mph over Stig on 7.476 sec/ 77 mph.

Next pairing saw Duncan Micallef first off the line on a strong charge ahead of Tethys for the win in 4.020 sec/ 295 mph over the visibly slower 4.788 sec/181 mph.

Next pairing saw Chris Andrews away first over Urs Urbacher for certain win but pedalled after severe tyre shake but after the burst panel blew and he auto parachutes deployed meant Urs was through in 4.198 sec/ 283 mph over Andrews 9.318 sec/ 42 mph.

Top Qualifier Thomas Nataas was next out on a bye run which failed to give him a back up for an ET Record when he went up in smoke but having made the run gave him the great success of the 2014 FIA European Top Fuel Championship.

In the Semis Thomas Nataas was keen not to pull a Red as in 2013 but it was neck and neck with Micke Kagared. Nataas had a 0.0475 holeshot over Micke Nataas kept his foot down despite smoking the tyres over half way and managed to take the win over Micke in 4.331 sec / 219 mph to 4.301 sec/ 250 mph.

Duncan Micallef had a massive 0.1844 holeshot over Urs Erbacher until this was lost after a ball of flame and engine explosion meant Urbacher could catch up despite a smoking motor himself to take the win in 4.210 sec/ 281mph over the slower 5.241 sec/ 133 mph.

The Final was going to be close with two past champions head to head as Nataas was first off the line leaving just ahead of Urbacher who with a smoking motor at the top end could not catch a magnificent Thomas Nataas event winner in 4.026 sec/ 303 mph over runner-up Urs Urbacher on 4.285 sec/ 285 mph.