Top Methanol Funny Car
After a frustrating 2005, Ulf Leanders
took full advantage of number one qualifier Urs Erbacher's
red light in the first round of eliminations. The Ironcad
Firebird then took out Niclas Andersson in the semis with
a 5.90 and then benefited from another redlight to take
the event win. With Erbacher putting his multi-championship
winning car up for sale and moving to Top Fuel, the Leanders
brothers will, along with assistance from Velocity Performance
Group team mate Martin Lundquist, be looking to produce
a first points title in 2006.
Leanders' final round opponent, Norwegian
Arvid Grodem, also made his way through from the bottom
half of the ladder, and dropped a violently weaving 5.88/246
NPB on Leif Andreasson in the first round of eliminations
and another five to take out Kjell Sjoblom in the semis
to take his place in his first final round on the European
tour, although once there he handed the event title to Leanders
with a 0.070 cherry on the tree.
Top Methanol Dragster
Rob Turner's 5.580 third spot in qualifying
resulted in a first round match up with Peter Schofer with
second place in the championship, behind Dave Wilson who
had long since sown up the 2005 title, at stake. Having
already delivered a couple of tight races this season, this
one was another to add to the ledger, with five feet separating
them at the finish line, Turner's 5.579 and slight holeshot
being enough to fend off Schofer's 5.576. Rob then moved
on to the event win after defeating Krister Johansson in
the semis and staging for the win after Wilson just failed
to make the call with the curfew approaching.
One to watch for 2006. veteran Krister
Johansson demonstrated that consistency was no longer a
problem with his A/Fuel dragster, just missing out on pole
by .005s to Wilson with a fine 5.496/261.29. A first round
5.459/260.14 produced the back up to the new Euro speed
record and accounted for Timo Habermann, which was then
topped by a 5.558/262.79, although the slight drop off in
ET wasn't enough to hold off Turner in the semis.
