FIA/FIM-Europe Sweden Internationals, Tierp Arena, Sweden

Words and Photos Ivan Sansom & Rose Hughes

Under occasionally gloomy, occasionally wet, but often sunny skies, the 2013 edition of the Sweden Internationals produced an event that was high tempo in the latter half of qualifying and throughout eliminations. Europe’s only all concrete track was showing some signs of going through a couple of harsh Scandinavian winters but the three year old surface delivered a slew of European records and PBs across the piece and, following on from a similar record breaker of a meeting at the season opener at Santa Pod a few weeks ago, it looks as it we’re in for a barnstormer of a season.

FIA Top Fuel Dragster

Whilst it’s not a surprise to find the Andersen Racing entry in the winner’s circle, but the way Thomas Nataas got onto the top step of the podium was far from what would be orthodox for the Landmeco/Veidec/Biltema backed team; no low qualifier (dropping into second spot with a 4.0366/293.91), no low ET, and gaining a fair slice of luck through eliminations whilst they chased ignition problems. The opening knockout phase saw Nataas getting past Micke Kågered with a 4.084 to a 4.153 and then defeated a tiresmoking Antti Horto with a six time pedaling spectacular that repeatedly went into shake with the wheels high in the air way down track. The final against Stig Neergaard wasn’t really a contest as the Dane opened out a car length’s lead at the 300 foot mark and was pulling way until the blower belt shredded it’s teeth handing the win to Nataas with a 4.200/219 to Neergaard’s 4.271/259 – Nataas almost scraping the wall whilst wrestling the car to the finishline.

Neergaard was plenty happy with his runner-up spot (although he must be very close to a first FIA Top Fuel win) as the consistent quick performance he demonstrated really laid down a marker for the rest of the year. The highlight of this was his first 3 on European soil with a 3.981/304.47 that was the low qualifying mark and would stand for both ends of the class best for the rest of the weekend. Although not quite on the three second pace in the eliminations, a 4.153 accounted for Timo Lehtimäki in the quarters and a 4.229 picked off a second Finn in the form of Jari Halinen at the semi-final stage.