The Euro Finals 2015
FIA/UEM European Drag Racing Championship
3 – 6 September 2015
Santa Pod Raceway – England
Words & Photos by Dick Parnham
Good weather greeted the massive field of competitors and meant nonstop action for the Event and Championship titles to be decided.
TOP FUEL DRAGSTER
Qualifying
1. Anita Makela 4.010 sec, 250 mph
2. Mikael Kagered 4.025 sec, 290 mph
3. Liam Jones 4.050 sec, 296 mph
4. Stefan Gunnarson 4.323 sec, 276 mph
5. Urs Urbacher 4.446 sec, 283 mph
6. Duncan Micallef 4.670 sec, 166 mph
7. Patrik Pers 4.903 sec, 156 mph
8. Stig Neergaard 5.020 sec, 196 mph
DNQ
9. Jari Halinen 5.773 sec, 113 mph
In the First Round Anita Makela was focused on the need to maintain her top qualifier if not her Personal Best of 3.878 sec / 313 mph. Racing against Jari Halinen as 1st Alternate in place of Patrik Pers. Anita was away first but was soon losing cylinders fast to see Halinen take the win in 4.028 sec / 304 mph over Anita’s 4.131 sec / 239 mph. Mikael Kagered was next out with the same focus as Anita to get through to retain his Championship Title and took a holeshot over Stig Neergaard who has a Personal Best of 3.950 sec / 304mph. As Stig hit problems slowing to 5.351 sec/ 125 mph, Mikael Kagered went through in 4.016 sec / 277 mph and in doing so took the 2015 Championship Title. Liam Jones against Duncan Micallef saw two storming runs next, but Liam’s hole shot and top end correction from the centre line gave him the win in 4.029 sec / 295 mph over Duncan on 4.245 sec / 273 mph. The final pairing saw Stefan Gunnarsson‘s hole shot advantage despite his motor letting go to take the win in 4.246 sec / 243 mph over the quicker 4.182 sec / 290 mph from Urs Urbacher.
The Semi Finals saw Jari Halinen go through on a bye run on 5.523 sec / 121 mph after Stefan Gunnarsson shut off after his burn out. Next out saw Mikael Kagered on a hole shot had to counter with a move to the right towards Liam Jones who lost the blower belt and chance of the finals. Kagered won on 4.160 sec / 242 mph over Jones 4.605 sec / 173 mph.
The Finals were a great turnaround to see Jari Halinen and shock for the bookies as the First Alternate to take the win for the event in 4.4347 sec / 193 mph over the Championship Winner Mikael Kagered on 4.640 sec / 167 mph.
Mikael Kagered
Jari Halinen
Anita Makela
PHOTO No4. Liam Jones
Stig Neergaard
Urs Urbacher
Stefan Gunnarsson
Duncan Micallef
TOP METHANOL DRAGSTER
Qualifying
1.Timo Habermann 5.285 sec, 269 mph
2.Dennis Habermann 5.401 sec, 265 mph
3.Dave Wilson 5.417 sec, 267 mph
4.Jonny Lagg 5.546 sec, 264 mph
5.Stefan Gunnarsson 5.739 sec, 240 mph
Dave Wilson had only been at the UK rounds as the car is still up for sale or rent but at 3rd Qualifier it still shows its top class capabilities. The Habermann brothers were strong in qualifying, but Timo had problems leaving Dennis Habermann against Lonny Lagg in the Finals. Here Dennis was away first and after driving through tyre shake took the win in 5.367 sec, 269 mph over Jonny Lagg at 5.516 sec, 262 mph and also the 2015 FEM Championship.
Dennis Habermann
TOP METHANOL FUNNY CAR
The Event Win and FIM Championship went to Leif Andreasson.
Leif Andreasson
PRO MODIFIED
Roger Moore had made a valiant effort to get to the final in 6.510 sec, 210 mph but lost to Michael Gullqvist’s quicker 5.979 sec, 245 mph. Gullqvist took the 2015 Championship.
Michael Gullqvist
PRO STOCK
Jimmy Alund took the win in 6.543 sec / 213 mph over Thomas Lindstrom at 6.677 sec / 203 mph, but the FIM Championship went to Lindstrom.
Thomas Lindstrom
EURO NITRO FUNNY CAR
The Final and Championship went Kevin Kent and the West Ten Team.
Kevin Kent
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