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The Finals 2010 – FIA/UEM European Drag Racing Championship - Round 5
9th-12th September 2010
Santa Pod Raceway - England
Words & Photos by Dick Parnham
As the vast number of competitors gathered for the 2010 European Championship Final they had seen their usual hot and dry weather replaced by wet weather on the European legs.
Fortunately the weather at Santa Pod was favourable with all competitors being able to put in up to 6 qualifier laps and the signs were that there would be some very close competition and new records and personal best times were going to be rewritten.
TOP FUEL DRAGSTER
Andy Carter was not in strong points position due to the unexpected rain off disruption but set out to gain as many points that were possible starting with Top Qualifier in 4.572 seconds, 329 mph and a new European ET Record.
Arch rival Urs Urbacher had been paired up with Andy Carter and in setting No 3 Qualifier at 4.843 seconds, 298 mph they had set the quickest Top Fuel pair ever seen in Europe.
Risto Poutiainen set No 2 Qualifier on 4.768 seconds, 309 mph and this meant 6 out of the 8 qualifiers were in the 4 second bracket,
Top Qualifying Summary
1/ Andy Carter 4.572 seconds, 320 mph
2/ Risto Poutianen 4.768 seconds, 309 mph
3/ Urs Urbacher 4.843 seconds, 298 mph
4/ Stig Neergaard 4.851 seconds, 268 mph
5/ Lanne Ahonen 4.910 seconds, 294 mph
6/ Jari Halinen 4.944 seconds, 300 mph
7/ Anita Makela 5.330 seconds, 177 mph
8/ Mike Kagered 6.065 seconds, 150 mph
Anticipation for the first round of competition was therefore very high for Andy Carter and the Lucas Oil Team as they lined up with equally experienced Micke Kagered.
Kagered got away first but Carter soon over took but gasps of Oh No!
Summed up the shock as Andy Carter had moved over towards the centre by half track and took out the timing lights in 4.962 seconds, 236 mph to give Kagered his place in the Semis.
Risto Poutianen knew this next run against Anita Makela was crucial for the championship and his holeshot gave him the advantage but as the tyres began to break loose and smoke the win went to Anita but also the European Top Fuel Championship went to Urs Urbacher.
Urs Urbacher was next out to meet Jari Halinen and a superb neck to neck battle was just won by Urs thanks to his hole shot in 4.859 sec 274 sec over Jari on 4.987 seconds, 244 mph.
The last pairing saw Janne Ahonen start just ahead of Stig Neergaard who in the effort to stay with Janne over powered the track with a violent move to the right after smoking the tyres to see
Ahonen go through in 5.032 seconds, 281 mph over Stig’s 7.545 seconds, 107 mph.
The Semi Finals saw Urs Urbacher set a superb 4.90 seconds, 304 mph for the win over Anita Makela who lost a blower belt slowing to 5.503 seconds, 180 mph.
Janne Ahonen took his place in the final with a consistent 5.111 seconds, 265 mph over Micke Kagered who failed to take advantage of his holeshot but had to pedal to keep control and then shut off in 5.747 seconds, 169 mph.
The Final saw Janne Ahonen up his performance against the new Champion Urs Urbacher laying down a challenging 4.986 seconds, 270 mph easing off as his the car moved towards the centre line but Urbacher had this well covered in his 4.885 seconds, 278 mph.
TOP METHONAL DRAGSTER
Qualifying was very close with the final 8 qualifiers only 0.348 seconds apart meant this was going to be too close for comfort for all the teams.
Top Qualifying Summary
1/ Fred Hanssen 5,355 seconds, 266 mph
2/ Timo Habermann 5.356 seconds, 257 mph
3/ Paul Ingar Udtian 5.456 seconds, 256 mph
4/ Peter Schofer 5.476 seconds, 256 mph
5/ Dave Wilson 5.485 seconds, 258 mph
6/ Derek Flynn 5.501 seconds, 261 mph
7/ Dennis Habermann 5.529 seconds, 252 mph
8/ Krister Johansson 5.703 seconds, 208 mph
In the first round of eliminations Timo Habermann lost his chance of the winning the Championship when he fell asleep off the line with a 0.62 Reaction time and despite a storming quicker ET lost out to Dennis Habermann’s hole shot and Personal Best 5.429 seconds, 253 mph despite the quicker 5.374 seconds, 260mpgh.
The Championship Title road with Dennis Habermann until he got to the Semi Final when his Blower let go on the burn out and instantly gave the title back to Timo.
After both Fred Hanssen and Dave Wilson failed to show it left Derek Flynn a solo pass in5.351 seconds, 268 mph to take the Final Round win in addition to his Personal Best earlier Lap of 5.327seconds, 270 mph.
TOP METHONAL FUNNY CAR
Qualifying
1/ Danny Bellio 5.793 seconds, 247 mph
2/ Jurgen Nagel 5.828 seconds, 244 mph
3/ Arvid Grodem 5.835seconds, 221 mph
4/ Dan Larsen 5.921 seconds, 241 mph
5/ Rob Turner 6.046 seconds, 225 mph
6/ Dezsoe Krivan 6.169 seconds, 234 mph
7/ Steph Milam 6.320 seconds, 216 mph
The field of 7 performances in qualifying has improved since the Maim Event when they started out on the 2010 Championship.
In his first full season since moving to Funny Car from Top Methanol Dragster Rob Turner qualified well but had to shut off early in the First Round when he went up in smoke shutting down to regain control.
The experience of Dan Larson gave him the Round Win and the 2010 Methanol Funny Car Championship.
MSA & FIA European PRO MODIFIED Championships
The whole Pro Modified FIA Championship just gets bigger in performance and professionalism.
With Melanie Troxel promoting a Pro Mod World Series she has been a leading ambassador with her impressive results on the track in the FIA European Championship.
As Top Qualifier for the Pro Mod Field of 25 Cars Melanie Troxel had also set the Top Sped in her No1 6.027 seconds, 241 mph.
It was unfortunate that Melanie went out early in the Semi Finals when a leaking oil pipe was spotted whilst burning out.
Andy Robison was in the rebuilt ’53 Studebaker Commander in bright red following the fire the original suffered at Alastaro in Finland.
The competition is always hot in Pro Mod but Adam Flamholc has not looked back since beating Melanie Troxel at The Main Event Round 1.
As No2 Qualifier to Melanie he was in superb form and in eliminations set a New European Record ET of 5.967 sec.
There was no stopping him as he took the Event win with Johan Lindberg taking the Pro Mod European 2010 Title.
PRO STOCK
AS with Pro Mod the racing is consistently close with only 0.20 seconds splitting the 8 car field.
Sampsa Palos at No 4 Qualifier set a Personal Best ET at 6.822 Sec along with Michael Malmgren at 6.736 sec.
The Event win went to Jimmy Alund in 6.732seconds, 205 mph over Michael Malmgren on 6.812 seconds, 204 mph but this sufficient to give him the 2010 Pro Stock Championship honours.
Dick Parnham
www.dickparnham.fotopic.net
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