Coming off a win at the second tour event in Finland, Thomas Nataas started off eliminations in fifth spot after a 5.089 best and then produced the fastest TS of the event with a 302.46 mph blast after a pedal on a 5.13 victory over Hakan Fallstrom in the first round. Nataas wasn’t able to get the Batmobile to hook up again after breaking traction at 300 feet in his semi-final loss to Nilsson, but moved into second in the points with his home race in Oslo to come the following weekend.
Local resident Micke Kagered qualified 1st 4.944 in front of a huge number of guests from his myriad of sponsors, but lost to Nilsson despite improving to a 4.91/301 in the first round, but was pleased to have solved the early season engine explosions.
An off the trailer 5.000 pass secured 2nd spot on the ladder for Tommy Moller but he lost out to Haapanen by nine feet in the opening round of eliminations and will look to the power tracks to come to climb in the points.
Dutchman Lex Joon is struggling in his championship defence, and wasn’t best pleased having lost a potential 4.8 second qualifier when the timing system didn’t co-operate and had to settle for a 5.099 for 6th. Dropping a tenth in the first round of eliminations meant a loss to Erbacher.
Top Fuel DNQs
With assistance from Donnie Holbrook, Denmark’s Stig Neergaard impressed on his return to FIA competition after just short of a decade, and produced increments on a couple of short passes that suggest a full pull could put him very close to the field in the near future.
