Merely by qualifying Norwegian Thomas Nataas secured his first FIA Top Fuel championship (and a fourth for the Andersen Racing team), but he underlined it with a 4.016/298.80 for the low qualifying spot, although that was before the failure of a fuel line at the hit of the throttle pictured here. First round of eliminations saw a double flame show from Nataas and Patrik Pers, but the Swede’s came first and Nataas hung on to a 4.290 win. Semi-final and a 4.031/305.04 (top speed of the event) came with the slender red against Andrews, but three event titles out of a possible six is a healthy return for the Veidec/Biltema/Landmeco team. Needless to say they won’t be resting on their laurels for 2014 with co-owner/crewchief Karsten Andersen quipping “we’ll just have to win all six next year!” with a wry smile on his face.

FIA Top Fuel Dragster
1. Thomas Nataas      (Nor)                4.016/298.80 mph       semi-final
2. Anita Mäkelä           (Fin)                 4.042/298.80 mph       1st round
3. Jari Halinen             (Fin)                 4.077/289.39 mph       1st round
4. Chris Polidano         (Ma)                4.173/292.05 mph       1st round
5. Chris Andrews        (UK)                4.295/279.43 mph       winner
6. Duncan Micallef      (Ma)                4.393/213.80 mph       semi-final
7. Stig Neergaard        (Den)               4.994/150.61 mph       runner up
8. Patrik Pers              (Swe)              7.604/81.68 mph         1st round

Low ET            4.016 secs       Nataas
Top speed       305.04 mph     Nataas

FIA/MSA Pro Modified

Although he’s not been contending for the championship, Switzerland’s Bruno Bader’s low six second consistency always makes him a threat when he has shown up this year, and he takes a strong lead in the British MSA Pro Modified championship final next weekend at the National Finals thanks to qualifying second at the Euros (with a 6.051) and producing 6.05s in three of the four rounds on raceday and lowering his personal best in a 6.044/233.65 to a 6.061/233.96 semifinal match up with David Vegter.