Pro Stock Car

The Eye of the Tiger Grand Am took Magnus Hansson to his first European Event win, producing one of only two sixes in eliminations to defeat Jan Muren in the LoVen car (far lane) in the first round of competition. Hansson then benefitted from a red light start by Ulf Jonsson in the semis and was able to keep his ride in a straight line whilst final round opponent Jimmy Alund crossed the centreline in the dark.

Jimmy Alund had virtually secured back to back championship titles when the second placed points runner Jackie Hansen withdraw with enigine damage prior to the event. Alund underlined his title with a 6.951 to head the qualifying sheets (and which stood for low ET for the rest of the meeting). His final round dart left into Hansson's lane was a minor hiccup in what has been another banner year for the Swedish team.

 

With Roger Lyren calling the shots at the Finals, Anders Abrahamsson was the class of the Pro Stock Bike field with a 7.290 top qualifier, and then took out Len Paget and Chris Hope in the quarters and semis, leading to a marquee match-up between the 1 and 2 in the points against Roger Pettersson. Abrahamsson shot off the line first with a big holeshot and carried the lead to the finish line for the biggest win of his career so far.

Despite the final round loss, Roger Pettersson took the Series points title for the eighth time in the past nine years, one of most dominant runs in world drag racing (John Force and Aussie Gary Phillips [in ANDRA Top Alcohol] are the only ones to currently top this in a major series). With the rumored introducing of V-Twins into the Euro fields next season and the performance levels that Abrahamsson is starting to produce, Pettersson will have it all to do to keep knocking down the competition.

Nitro Funny Car

Great uncertainty surrounds the future of Nitro Funny Cars in Europe after the demise of the British Championship and a couple of seasons without any startling performances. Gordon Smith's Shockwave Firebird burst an oil line on his first effort and a shaking very early click off on his second pass (after a 0.882 60 foot clocking); despite this he was able to defeat compatriot John Spuffard in the first two rounds of the Fuel Funny Car match race.