2008 FIA/UEM EUROPEAN FINALS HIGHLIGHTS - SANTA POD
Tue, 2008-09-09 10:28
The 2008 season has been dire with two of the FIA events held at Santa
Pod Raceway in Northamptonshire completely rained out including the
prestigious European Finals where all four days of the meeting were
subjected to torrents of rain. A one shot qualifier for the
professional classes was completed on the finals day which was the only
one that was not totally washed out and with the some semis and finals
in each class about to be completed down came the wet stuff once more.
All the Champions were crowned later that evening at the official
banquet hosted by Santa Pod Raceway after championship points were
finalised.
Andy Carter clinched the FIA European Top Fuel Championship in the
Lucas Oil and Landmeco sponsored dragster coming from behind. He was
just five points behind Holland’s Lex Joon but qualified top with a
4.908/293 and would have faced Joon in the final if it had not rained.
Carter won the title by one point.
Andy Carter clinched the FIA European Top Fuel Championship in the
Lucas Oil and Landmeco sponsored dragster coming from behind. He was
just five points behind Holland’s Lex Joon but qualified top with a
4.908/293 and would have faced Joon in the final if it had not rained.
Carter won the title by one point.
Peter Schöfer won the FIA European Top Methanol Dragster Championship
in a two horse race with fellow German, Timo Habermann who led the
points chase coming into the European Finals. Habermann broke a
crankshaft bearing during the one shot qualifier handing the win to
Schöfer.
Ulf Leanders from Sweden wrapped up the FIA European Top Methanol Funny
Car title leading the points chase by a considerable amount over next
man Leif Andréasson who made it to the un-run final. Leanders accrued
enough points despite losing in round one with a thrown blower belt.
Sweden’s Jimmy Ålund made this year his fifth FIA European Pro Stock
Championship win in a row. He led the point total by just seventeen on
the way in, qualified top in the one shot try and made it to the rained
out final where he would have faced number two in the pursuit,
Finland’s Richard Sundblom.
It was the Pro Mod twins, driver Mikael Lindahl and Crew Chief Magnus
that led the way entering the European Finals and even though they
qualified badly and went out in round one they had gathered enough
points to get the FIA European Pro Modified Championship with their
Kendall backed Camaro.
Norway’s Svein Olav Rolfstad had a good lead in the UEM point structure
coming into the Finals and with a top qualifier of 7.026/194 he got
through the first round before the rain set back in and it was enough
for him to secure the UEM European Super Twin Bike title.
England’s Ian King has now back to back wins in the UEM European Top
Fuel Bike class, he was second behind Sweden’s Rikard Gustafsson
leading into the Finals but Gustafsson was an alternate leaving the way
clear for King to rule.
Fredrik Fredlund from Åland, a Finnish island in the Baltic ran his own
race this year taking over the lead after the second race and never
letting go and regardless of a third place in qualifying and a first
round lose at the Finals due to stalling his Suzuki he clinched the UEM
Pro Stock Bike Championship.
Gordon Smith entered the Funny Car eliminator and got crossed up in his
own fuel spray sending the unfortunate driver across lanes before
returning to his own lane only to smack the guard wall heavily. He was
fine but the car will need some loving care.
Derek Flynn took this ex Larry Miersch A/Fuel car tuned by Jim Rizzoli
to an off the trailer 6.08 followed by ever improving times of 5.8,
5.6, a 5.5 before qualifying number one on Sunday with a great
5.499/253. The guy was pleased with his purchase.
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