Euro Finals, FIA/FIM-E European Drag Racing Championship at Santa Pod Raceway, England

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

Stig Neergaard lights it up in front of the packed stands. (Rose Hughes photo)

The FIA European Drag Racing season drew to a dramatic and spectacular close at Santa Pod Raceway over the course of the weekend. The weather gods decided that we needed a day off in the middle of the event, Saturday proving to be a complete washout and leaving the qualified fields fixed from two pro sessions on the Friday. However, the conditions of Sunday were far more conducive to the straightline sport and the crowning of the 2016 champions was played out in front of packed grandstands and spectator banking. The destiny of many of the titles was a far from straightforward affair as the twists and turns of raceday continued in a number of classes until their eliminators were concluded.

FIA Top Fuel Dragster

Liam Jones (Ivan Sansom photo)

In the premier FIA Top Fuel Dragster category, Britain’s Liam Jones led the way in qualifying with his first 3-second pass over the 1,000-foot distance recording a 3.989/306.91mph best in the two sessions that were able to be completed to comfortably lead the eight-car field. Outside of the delighted Rune Fjeld Motorsport/ARXELL team, the numbers weren’t that great but understandable given the second session being run under the lights with the track temperature dropping (although Jones was threatening to better his 3.9 on a 4.1135/230.93 which was slowed by a departing blower belt).