The Main Event, FIA European Drag Racing Championship, Round One, Santa Pod Raceway, England

Words and photos by Ivan Sansom and Rose Hughes
Thanks to TSI Timers (Europe) for the timing data

Stig Neergaard (near lane) and Liam Jones in FIA Top Fuel Dragster. (Rose Hughes photo)

The six event FIA European drag racing championship opened up with The Main Event at Santa Pod Raceway. The venerable facility celebrating its fiftieth year of operation is probably in finer fettle than it has been in its five decades as the leading venue in European drag racing whilst retaining a lot of its old school atmosphere.

One of the off track (indeed up in the sky) highlights was the first appearance of the RAF Red Arrows overhead for the first time since the 1980s, although the low cloud base (that ironically lifted shortly after the squadron of Hawks had departed over the horizon) prevented a full display of aerobatic excellence. (Ivan Sansom photo)

The rest of 2016 promises a notable season ahead, not least come September when the European tour returns to Santa Pod for the Finals in both car and bike classes.