MAKELA CLAIMS A FOURTH FIA DRAG TITLE BY REACHING THE FINAL – AND THEN DOMINATES SANTA POD EUROPEAN CLASH
Organiser: FIA When: September 5-8 Where: Santa Pod Raceway Starters: 38.
The curtain came down on the European Drag Racing series with the Euro Finals rounding out the year with some quick times and championship deciders over the course of the weekend at Santa Pod.
Maja Udtian improved the European elapsed-time record that she had set in Sweden a couple of weeks ago at the start of the event with a 3.8068s/315.52mph to lead the eight-car Top Fuel field.
Another second-generation racer slotted in behind the Norwegian with Jndia Erbacher hitting a 3.8803s/313.52mph, while Anita
Makela dropped in at three with a 3.9031s/308.24mph, picking up her fourth FIA championship by making the field.
The quarter-finals pitched Udtian against her RFM team-mate Liam Jones with both drivers hitting problems off the startline. Maja got sideways before shutting off while the Brit had sufficient momentum to take the win.
Erbacher defeated Susanne Callin with a 4.104s and Swede Patrik Pers and local racer ‘Tethys’ shook and rattled to five-second runs with Pers gaining a spot in the semi-finals. Makela (3.900s/296.83mph) and Stig Neergaard (4.062s/254.25mph) delivered up the quickest pairing of the first round.
The final four stage had Jones gaining a free pass into the final as Pers was unable to make the call due to damage sustained in the quarter-finals.
On the other side of the ladder Erbacher hit a tyreshake with the parachutes deploying, while Makela improved her personal best elapsed time with a 3.821s/313.52mph.
The trophy match-up had Makela gaining a slight advantage off the startline. Jones’ CBD dragster started to break traction while the Finnish fan favourite took the win light.
The Fia/motorsport UK Pro Modified class had the top four in with a chance of taking the European championship.
Points leader Micke Gullqvist departed in the first round, David Vegter and low qualifier Jimmy Alund lost out in the semis. That left Jan Ericsson to confirm his first title. Ericsson, having qualified second, celebrated the title with the win.
Results
Top Fuel, Final: Anita Makela (FIN) 3.850s/297.01mph def Liam Jones (GBR) 4.979s/159.06mph.
Pro Modified, Final: Jan Ericsson (SWE) 8.178s/114.36mph def Jean Dulamon (FRA) red light
Pro Stock, Final: Robin Noren (SWE) 6.586s/209.04mph def Jimmy Alund (SWE) 6.550s/210.82mph (hole shot win)
Top Methanol, Final: Monty Bugeja (Mal) 5.303s/268.28mph def Sandro Bellio (BEL) 5.630s/261.15mph (-0.22s handicap)