The Euro Finals 2018 FIA/UEM European Drag Racing Championship
6–9 September 2018
Santa Pod Raceway – England
Words & Photos by Dick Parnham
With weather delays only on the first couple of days the massive crowd of spectators were to witness some amazing action and record-breaking performance from the Professional and Sportsman classes thanks to the 2018 new Santa Pod concrete Drag Strip.
TOP FUEL DRAGSTER
Qualifying
1. Anita Makela 3.870 sec, 297 mph
2. Antti Horto 3.935 sec, 298 mph
3. Urs Erbacher 4.181 sec, 225 mph
4. Stig Neergaard 4.392 sec, 234 mph
5. Liam Jones 7.043 sec, 76 mph
6. India Erbacher 9.129 sec, 89 mph
7. Duncan Micallef 9.220 sec, 72 mph
The 2018 Top Qualifier was Anita Makela who reset a new European ET Record in the process. Anita and her Team have a commanding points lead and with just completing a run in this first round will become the 2018 FIA Top Fuel Champions.
The first pairing saw Stig Neergaard away first with Liam Jones hitting tyre shake to catch up with Stig who shut down after smoke and fire seen but took the win in 4.467 sec /189 mph over Liam on 6.189 sec / 105 mph.
Anita Makela was next out on a bye run but put down a marker of 3.872 sec / 312 mph which on points gave her the 2018 Championship.
Antti Horto has had good performance in the Championship running second to Anita and took a hole shot over Duncan Micallef but both had motor problems and coasted to the stripe with Antti just ahead in 4.914 sec / 163 mph over Duncan on 4.930 sec / 150 mph.
It was Urs Erbacher out next against his Daughter India where this was the first time they had met in competition and as father Urs slowed with severe tyre shake India laid down her first 3 second lap of 3.992 sec / 293 mph for the win over Urs slower 8.240 sec / 78 mph.
The Semi Finals were a testament to the resolve of Anita Makela and her team where although Stig Neergaard had a hole shot he had on the run flames from his motor causing him to shut down whilst Anita put in a great lap of 3.899 sec / 305 mph to Stig’s 7.470 sec /68 mph.
Final pairing was very close with only 0.009 sec advantage to India Erbacher to Antti Horto who had to correct his cars move to the centre line with India wining on 4.001 sec / 297 mph over Antti in 4.348 sec / 189 mph.
The Final was great with India Erbacher in her first Top Fuel Final and after her first 3 second lap to go head-to-head with Anita Makela. As both staged Anita was away first but as India shut down after severe tyre shake Anita took the win 3.967 sec / 276 mph.
TOP METHANOL DRAGSTER
Top Qualifier was Timo Habermann on 5.308 sec / 266 mph, but his brother Dennis Habermann took the win in 5.345 sec / 266 mph over Jonny Lagg on 5.429 sec / 262 mph.
PRO MOD
Jimmy Alund took the win in 5.873 sec /241 mph
PRO STOCK
Bengt Ljungdahl took the win in 6.662 sec / 202 mph
