Following a two-year break resulting from the consequences of the global health crisis, the FIA European Drag Racing Championship returns this weekend, with Santa Pod Raceway kicking off the eagerly awaited season.
Anita Mäkelä (Top Fuel), Sandro Bellio (Top Methanol), Jimmy Ålund (Pro Stock) and Jan Ericsson (Pro Modified) who triumphed in their respective classes in 2019, due to the championships’ hiatus are still reigning champions today.
TOP FUEL TO HAVE A NEW CHAMPION
Drag racing’s premier class is set to have a new titlist at the end of the year, after the 2019 title-winner, the Finnish fan favourite Mäkelä decided to take a sabbatical.
At the Main Event the likes of Antti Horto and Susanne Callin will be among the favourites, but rookie racer Ida Zetterström may also be a force to be reckoned with. The former Junior Dragster and Super Street Bike racer from Finland made headlines last September, recording the quickest ever licensing pass in the class with 3.86s run.
FULL FIELD OF PRO MODS
Pro Modified a strong 16-car entry, with seven different nationalities, making it the most international class of the event.
Jan Ericsson, sporting number 1 on his orange Chevrolet Camaro, will defend his 2019 title and is one of the main contenders for glory at Santa Pod. The biggest threat for the Swede should come from the Dutch and the likes of David Vegter, Michel Tooren and Marck Harteveld.
Andres Arnover could be the event’s dark horse aboard his ’67 Mustang GT500. Back in action is Swiss racer, Bruno Bader, with his familiar but completely rebuilt Corvette. Also coming from Switzerland and also driving a Corvette is Marcus Hilt, who proved before that he is capable of surprising the title favourites.
Strong representation of British drivers, including the likes of Andy Robinson Jon Webster, Nick Davies, Kev Slyfield, Bobby Wallace, John Tebenham, Wayne Nicholson, will also be on the lookout for strong results.
TOP METHANOL
Sandro Bellio claimed his first Top Methanol crown, and the maiden FIA drag racing title for a driver from Belgium, in 2019. This year Bellio is back for more, but he will have to face tough opposition coming from Norwegian youngster Linn Fløysvik.
FOUR ROUNDS IN STORE
This year the FIA EDRC will be held across four rounds and three different countries. After Santa Pod’s the Main Event there will be a break in the championship until August’s Tierp Arenal. From there the series will move onto the NitrOlympX at the Hockenheimring and will conclude two weeks later with the European Finals, also held at Santa Pod Raceway.
Source FIA Media
