The FIA European Drag Racing Championship series concluded it's racing season at fabled Santa Pod Raceway in England. Exciting action within all Professional categories capped off a terrific 2009 year of racing.

Top Fuel
Top Fuel saw a massive shake up with Brit and top fuel rookie Jon Webster taking the round win. Jon met Joran Persaker in the final. The lights ran and both cars left hard, Jon was away first with a 0.105 to a 0.135. Both cars made it to the 60ft in 0.89 however Joran hit heavy shake just past the 60ft. Jon drove away from a coasting Joran however he too hit shake just before the 660 and shut the motor off. Joran seeing that Jon was coasting got back on it and starting pedaling hard. Five hits later Joran was on Jon’s tail however he ran out of room and Jon made the stripe first with a 6.9816 to a 7.5920.

To take the win Jon dispensed of Risto Poutiainen in the first round with a 5.4505/221.19 to a 8.6203/103.60 both cars shook heavily resulting for body work to fly off from Jon’s car however he drove through it and took the win. Round two saw him take out Micke Kagered with a clean 4.9025/294.36 to a losing 6.0767/148.14 Micke hit shake at the 330ft mark and from there it was a one car race.

Thats pretty much wraps up top fuel however for the first time this season there is no mention of Champion Andy Carter. The Multi championship winning driver went out in the first round after the bottom pull broke a very uncharacteristic problem from the normally consistent lucas oil team. However Just by making it into the field Andy had done enough to keep hold of the title for another year.

Top Fuel Winner - John Webster

Pro Mod
Mats Eriksson destroyed the field all weekend the final saw him line up along side Micke Gullqvist. Micke could still take the championship but he would have to win and set low ET to take it, Micke is not one to shy away from a challenge and it was clear this was going to be a fight to the end. Both cars launched hard Micke with a 0.0943 to Mats 0.0563 however Mats was slow to the sixty with a 1.0294 to a 1.0114 which saw Micke claw back in touch with the Green Goblin. However by the 660 mark it was all over Mats was in front and wasn't looking back with a 3.9681/188.84 to a 4.0195/182.51. At the stripe it was 6.0289 to a 6.1415 P.b from Micke however is wasn’t enough to topple the unstoppable Mats Eriksson.

Round one saw Mats cruise through after Henri Joosten pulled a -0.2745 reaction. It also saw the points leader Andy Robinson suffer from a loose blower belt and saw him loose to Roger Moore with a 6.9668/160.17 to Andy’s 9.0048/99.41.

For Round two Mats Eriksson lined up along side Brit Graham Ellis. Mats got away first and just drove away with a 6.0443/238.89 against Grahams 6.2381/229.07. That was the end of Andy Robinson’s Titles hopes.

For Round three Mats Eriksson dispatched Roger Johansson with a 6.0163/239.03 to a loosing 6.1449/227.81. Roger reset his own record for a Nitrous Pro mod in europe however it wasn’t enough to keep up with Mats 6.0163 second pass.

It was clear that Mat was going to be a force to be reckoned with after he ran a 5.9880/241.59 straight off the trailer.

Pro Mod Winner - Mats Eriksson

Pro Stock
Richard Sundblom drove around Jimmy Alund pushing the championship winner onto the 2nd step of the podium for the first time this year. Richard won with a 6.7337/205.33 to a 11.1700/75.70 after Jimmy got away first but the motor died just before half track.

Round one Richard got the hole shot on Tommy Leindahl and just drove away from him with a 6.7374/203.34 beating a 6.9829/199.00. Round two saw Richard putting Micke Callin on the trailer again Richard was away first with a 0.0695 to a 0.0870 reaction time and again he just drove away from Micke crossing the line with a new PB of 6.6961/206.12 to Micke’s 6.7704/203.47.

Richard put a stop to Jimmy Alunds winning streak however it was too little to late and Jimmy was able to take home yet another european Championship

Pro Stock Winner - Richard Sundblom

TMD
Peter Schofer came from qualifing 4th to take the round win. The final saw Peter and Krister Johansson running side by side all the way however Peter made the finish first with a 5.3606/264.21 to Krister 5.3660/266.69 at the finish line 2 feet separated both cars.

Round one saw Peter win purely on the hole-shot 0.1216 reaction time for peter to Fred Hanssen’s 0.2632 at the stripe Peter Won with a 5.5538/260.49 to Fred’s 5.4326/265.75. Round two saw Peter beat Championship winner Timo Habermann again purely on the hole shot 0.0176 reaction time for Peter to Timo’s 0.1072 at the finish it was 5.4206/264.06 for Peter to Timo’s 5.3802/260.52

TMD Winner Peter Schofer

TMFC
Ulf leanders walked away with the round win after beating Dan Larsen in the final both cars ran 6.039’s Ulf with a 6.0396 and dan with a 6.0399. Ulf got away first and Dan drove hard to catch up with him but ran out of blacktop giving Ulf the win by just 0.28 feet (8.7cm)

Round one saw Danny Bellio Red light letting Ulf walk through to the second round and giving him the championship at the same time. Round two saw Ulf with a bye straight into the final.

TMFC Winner Ulf Leanders

Thrills and spills
Stig Neergaard’s weekend came to a untimely end after he hit shake at the 120 ft mark in round one and promptly broke all studs on the rear left hand hub leaving him sliding down the track on three wheels. Surprisingly the car came away relatively damage free and some how didn’t make contact with the walls http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5-sxJ13VXU

Pro mod Saw Ingo Rolla and David Vegter getting a little too close David hit shake and started to get out of shape in the right hand lane however he stayed with it and kept his foot on the gas, and then with no warning Ingo’s Avenger made a dive for the right lane and made contact with the rear quarter of David’s car as they went through the top end spinning David and putting Ingo in the wall.

Rodger Moore made a dive to for the tree in his dodge viper Pro Mod however unlike previous encounters with the tree he was able to avoid it and get the car back and into stage.

Rodger Moore - Pro Mod Viper

John Sleath in the Audi Street Eliminator car ran a 7.683 second quarter mile on drag radials, thats stupidly impressive, more so as between round maintenance extends as far as to turn the fan on and have a cup of tea.

John Sleath - Street Eliminator Car

That rounds up another season of action packed drag racing from this side of the pond. Every one is off to repair rebuild and upgrade ready for another record breaking season. See you in May!

2009 European Champions
FIA Top Fuel Dragster: Andy Carter
FIA Top Methanol Dragster: Timo Habermann
FIA Top Methanol Funny Car: Ulf Leanders
FIA Pro Modified: Mats Eriksson
FIA Pro Stock: Jimmy Alund

Santa Pod Event Winners:
FIA Top Fuel Dragster: Jon Webster 6.9816/117.16
FIA Top Methanol Dragster: Peter Schofer 5.3606/264.21
FIA Top Methanol Funny Car: Ulf Leanders 6.0396/196.30
FIA Pro Modified: Mats Eriksson 6.0289/238.91
FIA Pro Stock: Richard Sundblom 6.7337/205.33
Fuel Funny Car: John Spuffard 5.1099/295.28

Super Pro ET: Bob Doyle (8.85) 8.8906/152.11
Pro ET: Mark Bailey (9.34) 9.366/146.21
Super Comp: Norbert Schneider 8.8997/157.43
Super Gas: Jon Morton 9.9036/143.95
Super Street: John Grant 10.8721/137.81
Junior Dragster: Rosie Hunt (7.90) 7.9935/81.96
Comp Eliminator: Adele Woodbridge (10.35) 11.4104/116.79
Street Eliminator: John Sleath 7.9428/190.50
Nostalgia Fuel Altered Association: Jim Usher 8.9463/92.18

Photos by: Dom Romney
www.Modernpics.co.uk - Home to Europe's premier Drag racing photography