Semifinalist Duncan Micallef produced a new PB in qualifying with a 4.092 that could have been a couple of ticks better but for an early shut-off resulting from the Maltese driver’s visor steaming up in the cool conditions. On race day, Micallef picked up his second round win in successive events with victory in the opening stanza over Anita Mäkelä with a 4.147 and the Maltese driver will overtake Mäkelä in the points as the Finnish chicken farmer will now sit out the European finale due to business commitments at home. Micallef and the RFM team kept Nataas honest in the semis with a 4.102 but still remained someway short of the Norwegian’s 3.957.

Bouncing back from a first round loss in Germany, Urs Erbacher was in a better frame of mind with veteran tuner John Stewart over from the States to give a few tips and tweak the combination and a 4.074 placed the Midland Oil/Victory Motorcycles rail in third spot heading into eliminations. A first round win of the year over Chris Andrews came in dramatic fashion as both rides went up in smoke, pedaled with Andrews recovering earlier but then slowing as the rear-end locked up chucking the belt and enabling Erbacher to power past on a 5.858 run.

FIA Top Fuel Dragster
1. Thomas Nataas      (Nor)                4.021/306.71 mph       winner
2. Antti Horto               (Fin)                 4.065/294.08 mph       runner-up
3. Urs Erbacher          (CH)                4.074/274.58 mph       semi-final
4. Anita Mäkelä           (Fin)                 4.075/236.13 mph       1st round
5. Duncan Micallef      (Ma)                4.092/252.67 mph       semi-final
6. Chris Andrews        (UK)                4.095/289.01 mph       1st round
7. Stig Neergaard        (Den)               4.226/269.30 mph       1st round
8. Micke Kågered       (Swe)              7.130/83.18   mph       1st round

Low ET            3.955 secs       Nataas
Top speed       311.84 mph     Nataas