Veteran Tony Betts decided to put everything up for sale with a view to retiring from the sport at the end of the year, so this is the last under power launch we see from the Venom altered in the current guise, although the whole team completed a final trip down the Santa Pod quarter mile in the rain on Sunday afternoon pushing the car all the way.

Nitro testing

Shelley Pearson has spent a couple of seasons driving the Eagle two seater dragster around Europe after graduating from Frank Hawley’s school with her Super Comp license, and started her licensing procedures in one of Rune Fjeld’s Top Fuel Dragsters, following her father Tony into the premier class (and become the first British female in Top Fuel for over twenty years). A 5.629s at only 185mph on a half pass was enough to make Shelley the quickest British female drag racer in history. “That run certainly got my attention with dropped cylinders moving the car around, but it was real fun” beamed Shelley, “I’m looking to get the money to run some non-FIA rounds next season, and trying to get the sponsorship for a championship chase in 2012. Watch this space!” Two full passes are required before Shelley gains her license and she plans on doing so before the season finishes [Shelley achieved this with ease over the weekend just gone at a RWYB at Santa Pod with a 5.30/202 and then a 4.98/278].