Andy Carter booked a spot his fourth final in a row (and sixth out of seven events since the start of 2008) in the Lucas Oil car with not a little luck this time around. After dominating this event from start to finish last year, Carter was reasonably satisfied with second spot on the ladder which meant a first round match-up with Anita Makela. This is where Carter’s championship run could have taken a massive dent as the slicks went up in smoke at three quarter track, shortly followed by Makela’s blower belt which slowed the R20+ Energy Drink car to a losing 4.226/234 to Carter’s 4.125/261.91. The final four was another monster match-up for Carter, this time alongside Lex Joon, but the Dutchman’s slicks started spinning at half track giving Carter the winlight with a 4.142/263 to Joon’s 4.206/251. “It was a shame we didn’t get to run the final as it would have been a great race with Risto, but we leave this race with the points lead heading into Germany next month”.

Urs Erbacher shipped back his reserve rail, last seen taking Scott Weis to the victory lane on the IHRA tour back in May, from the States to race at Mantorp and Hockenheim. Perhaps a measure of how strong the Euro Top Fuel field is getting, Erbacher only managed fifth spot in qualifying, but gained a round win when Stig Neergaard pulled both drivers through the starting beams with a huge red light, Erbacher running a consistent 4.131/283.14 but lost lane choice to Poutiainen in the semis. A loss of traction in the second half of the track ended the day for the Swiss driver at the semi-final stage, but he’ll be back at Hockenheim looking for revenge.