Santa Pod, May 28: The opening round of the FIA European Drag Racing Championship was held at Santa Pod, Wellingborough, UK on Monday (May 26). In the main event of the day held at the Santa Pod raceway 100 kilometres north of London, defending European Top Fuel Dragster champion Kim Reymond of Denmark failed to make the final which was contested by local rivals Smax Smith and Gary Page. Despite his engine blowing as he crossed the finish line, Smith won in a time of 4.959 seconds, achieving a speed of 451.47 km per hour (280.53 mph). Page clocked 5.382 seconds at a speed of 340.62 km/h (211.65 mph). Sweden's Roger Johansson comfortably won the Pro Modified class final in a time of 6.462 seconds from Henri Joosten of the Netherlands who was timed at 6.880 seconds. Defending champion Hakan Nilsson of Sweden was eliminated in the semi-finals. Britain's Dave Wilson beat the current European Top Methanol dragster driver Peter Schofer from Germany and set a new European record, clocking 5.461 seconds at a speed of 393.39 km/h (244.44 mph). Schofer was timed at 5.488 seconds.


In the final event of the day, Per Bengtsson of Sweden won the Super Twin motorcycle championship in 7.212 seconds from Norwegian Ronny Aasen who was well back in 9.668 seconds.



The second round of the six-event series is due to be held in Alastaro, Finland on July 4-6.


Bureau Report