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23:45

Today's pictures are now available, you can view them via the Event Index page.

21:20

Results summary

FIA Top Fuel Dragster: Tommy Möller 7.009/131.99 def. Micke Kågered 10.453/67.25
FIA Top Methanol Dragster: Rob Turner staged, Dave Wilson no show
FIA Top Methanol Funny Car: Ulf Leanders 7.018/136.38 def. Arvid Grødem 5.964/218.48 red light
FIA Pro Stock: Magnus Hansson 7.012/197.64 def. Jimmy Ålund 7.917/128.23 DQ

FIM/UEM Top Fuel Bike: Gary Jones 7.464/170.50 def. Jamie Sneddon 8.433/164.18
FIM/UEM Supertwin: Hans Olav Olstad 6.955/207.31 def. Ronny Aasen 7.601/133.51
FIM/UEM Pro Stock Bike: Anders Abrahamsson 7.394/176.61 def. Roger Pettersson 12.034/66.07

NDRS Bilsport Pro Modified: Andy Robinson 6.283/226.26 def. Patrick Wikström 8.087/115.95

2005 European Champions

Subject to official ratification

FIA Top Fuel Dragster: Lex Joon
FIA Top Methanol Dragster: Dave Wilson
FIA Top Methanol Funny Car: Urs Erbacher
FIA Pro Stock: Jimmy Ålund

FIM/UEM Top Fuel Bike: Ian King
FIM/UEM Supertwin: Ronny Aasen
FIM/UEM Pro Stock Bike: Roger Pettersson

NDRS Bilsport Pro Modified: Patrick Wikström

21:10

FIA Top Methanol Dragster final:

Rob Turner staged, Dave Wilson no show

Dave Wilson and the American Car Imports team couldn't fix the clutch damage in time for the final so Rob staged and took the green for the event win.

John Spuffard closed the event with a 6.901/135.55 demonstration pass in the Showtime Fuel FC, again the FC drifted to the left and again the FC sideswiped the wall - this one looked a little more serious than the tag on Friday but Spuff got the car off the wall and got the chute out.

Stay tuned as we are now working on today's pictures and a result and Championship summary.

21:05

NDRS Bilsport Pro Modified final:

Andy Robinson 6.283/226.26 def. Patrick Wikström 8.087/115.95

Gus pulled an incredible 0.027 reaction to Patrick's 0.115, 1.037 to sixty feet to Patrick's 0.999. Patrick got loose and was pedalling before 330 feet, Gus also moved about his lane but stayed on the throttle to take the event win whilst Patrick backed off.

21:00

FIM/UEM Pro Stock Bike final:

Anders Abrahamsson 7.394/176.61 def. Roger Pettersson 12.034/66.07

Anders pulled a superb 0.018 RT to Roger's 0.051, but Roger was off the throttle before 330 feet and Anders took the event win.

20:57

FIM/UEM Top Fuel Bike final:

Gary Jones 7.464/170.50 def. Jamie Sneddon 8.433/164.18

Jamie was away first 0.186 to 0.275 but from then on it was all about Gary, in the gloom I think I saw Jamie wheelie at least once.

20:55

FIA Top Fuel Dragster final:

Tommy Möller 7.009/131.99 def. Micke Kågered 10.453/67.25

At this time of night this race was only going to be a pedal-fest but with Tommy needing to take Low ET off Lex to take the Championship he was going to give it his all anyway. Tommy left first 0.135 to 0.160, 0.844 to sixty feet to Micke's 0.914, Micke was off the throttle before 330 feet whilst Tommy pedalled no less than three times with one bank of cylinders burning ominously orange instead of the usual nitro colour and eventually he got off the throttle. Tommy took the event win but Lex Joon takes the 2005 European Championship, congratulations Lex!

20:45

FIA Pro Stock final:

Magnus Hansson 7.012/197.64 def. Jimmy Ålund 7.917/128.23 DQ crossed centre line

0.037 to 0.054 RTs in Jimma's favour, 1.021 to 1.046 to sixty feet in Magnus' favour and the 330 foot times very similiar, 2.914 for Magnus and 2.917 for Jimmy. Jimmy's car started to move to the left and then suddenly crossed lanes, Jimmy and Magnus were almost literally side-by-side although I don't think Magnus saw Jimmy as he carried on under full throttle and took the win whilst Jimmy pulled it back into his lane.

20:40

FIA Top Methanol Funny Car final:

Ulf Leanders 7.018/136.38 def. Arvid Grødem 5.964/218.48 red light

Arvid pulled a 0.070 red light handing the win to Ulf. Ulf backed off at about 1000 feet, probably saw the win light in the darkness.

20:35

FIM/UEM Supertwin final:

Hans Olav Olstad 6.955/207.31 def. Ronny Aasen 7.601/133.51

Ronny got away first 0.127 to 0.138 and was quicker to half track but he got off the throttle at about 1000 feet and Hans Olav powered past for the win.

20:25

Super Comp eliminations round 1 winners: Brian Pateman 8.980/152.44 bye (Shaun Lathan no show), Jon Morton 8.833/148.56 bye (Chris Isaacs no show), Pete Creswell 8.855/156.13 bye (Robert Joosten no show), Chris Johnson 10.474/109.24 bye (Rob Faulkner no show), Zane Llewellyn 8.945/149.45, Andy Williams 9.353/113.07

9.50 Bike eliminations round 1 winners: Fred Furlong 9.982/140.14 bye (Lee Baxter no show), Richard Sawatzki bye (Mark Watkins no show) 9.756/144.28, Richard Hann 12.264/96.94 bye (Steve Gwatkin no show), Andy Bird 9.396/139.71 bye (Ed Smiley no show), Chris Jones 10.520/138.07 bye (Gary Drury no show), Geoff Connor 9.836/140.58 bye (Paul Wing no show), Steve Coombs 9.946/107.21 bye (Carl Atkinson no show), Steve Knapp 9.635/149.43 bye (Shaun Spiers no show), Andy Burfitt 9.511/143.18 bye (John Hackney no show), Dave Burfitt 14.444/107.86 bye (Paul Hollway no show), Andy Haley 10.826/129.79 bye (Paul Coombs no show)

20:15

FIA Top Methanol Dragster eliminations round 2:

Dave Wilson 7.749/94.87 bye

Grumpy took the bye and the plan was to go for lane choice. It was looking just great for Grumpy, 0.900 to sixty feet but there was a shower of sparks from the clutch at about 400 feet and Grumpy got off the throttle and cruised through.

Rob Turner 5.534/252.85 def. Krister Johansson 5.558/262.79

A great race under the lights, Rob got away first 0.045 to 0.065 and Krister was catching but the injected nitro dragster got close to the guardrail and Krister got off the throttle right at the last moment, Rob took the stripe by 0.044 and Krister set a new European speed record, well done Krister!

19:50

NDRS Bilsport Pro Modified eliminations round 3:

Patrick Wikström 6.433/219.44 def. Roger Johansson 6.739/199.18

Numbers one and two in the Championship went head-to-head and the number one clinched the 2005 NDRS Bilsport Pro Modified title. Roger got away first 0.066 to 0.125, Patrick had a storming sixty foot time of 1.015 to Roger's 1.103, and ran down the left-hand side of the lane to take the stripe and the Championship by 0.246, congratulations Patrick!

Andy Robinson 6.351/226.32 def. Håkan Nilsson 18.921/32.48

Håkan's four hundredth Pro Mod race and a spectacular nitrous burp off the start line, Andy clocked 1.042 to sixty feet, 4.171/177.09 at half track, and backed up Friday's 227.19 for a new European speed record, well done Gus! The safety crews followed Håkan and Gus down the shutdown area, word came back from the top end that Håkan had set off his fire bottles.

Trackside conditions are 15.9 C, 92% humidity and 29.71 inches of air.

19:45

FIM/UEM Pro Stock Bike eliminations round 2:

Anders Abrahamsson 7.317/172.46 def. Chris Hope 8.316/116.04 red light

Chris was up against it and tried to hard to get the jump with a 0.151 red light. A great time from Anders into the gloom and damp air.

Roger Pettersson 7.291/183.45 def. Martin Bishop 7.737/170.99

Martin was away first 0.062 to 0.085 but Roger pulled a big number out of the bag again and took the 2005 Championship, well done Roger!

19:45

FIM/UEM Top Fuel Bike eliminations round 2:

Gary Jones 7.513/177.85 def. Steve Carey 9.181/94.48

Gary got away first 0.208 to 0.359, Steve had overhauled him by 330 feet but then the bike started to drift right again and Steve got off the throttle, Gary overtook him again and took the win.

Jamie Sneddon 8.818/160.21 def. Neil Midgley 10.059/90.88

Jamie left first 0.168 to 0.192, Midgo had the better incrementals to half track but the rear tyre was screeching so Midgo was obviously having problems taming the Funny Bike, he got off the throttle after half track and Jamie went past him and into the final.

19:05

Pro ET eliminations round 1 winners: John Atkinson (9.19) 9.438/126.78, Wayne Hiscock (9.75) 9.807/120.40, Gary Springford (9.70) 11.403/110.83 bye (Jack Brewster no show), Phil Toppin (11.25) 11.309/121.57 bye, Clive Cox (10.31) 10.313/132.42, Carla Pittau (10.25) 10.272/131.94 bye (Dave Ward no show), Aidan Kenny (11.30) 11.402/117.49 bye (Simon Barlow no show), Kev Slyfield (11.64) 11.699/108.16, Keith Herbert (11.34) 11.434/116.93 bye (Travis Rider no show), Mike Lacey (10.30) 10.270/132.66 bye (Terri Lee no show), Neil Hunter (10.83) 10.493/129.97, Ron Bartlett (9.75) 10.525/129.29 bye (Lee Huxley no show)

Super Pro ET eliminations round 1 winners: Steve Johnson (7.37) 7.353/177.76 bye (Andy Frost no show), Barry Giles (7.76) 7.662/171.80 bye (Bob Glassup no show), Ian Tubb (7.55) 7.546/177.95 bye (Pat Talbot no show), Vince Gibbs (8.86) 9.699/111.28 bye (Sam Freeman no show), Steve Nash (8.06) 8.339/172.46 bye (Martyn Jones no show), Derek Flynn (6.96) 7.085/194.15 bye (John Tebenham no show), Ashley Bell (8.53) 8.659/151.55 bye (Ken Blomer no show), John Everitt (7.90) 8.238/141.12 bye (Rich Gilbertson no show)

John Everitt got a huge round of applause from the crowd after taking a bye for his late son Oliver.

Trackside conditions are 16.2 C, 90% humidity, and 29.71 inches of air.

19:05

Martin Hill followed Supertwin with a fantastic 5.885/284.18 in the Fireforce 2 Jet FC.

Fuel Funny Car match race 2:

Gordon Smith 8.732/99.17 def. John Spuffard 13.448/45.09

Gordon left first 0.179 to 0.243, 0.884 to sixty feet to Spuff's 0.920, both FCs hit shake, Spuff's caterpillar tracks are particularly noticeable up to sixty feet where he got off the throttle. Gordon stayed on it to about 150 feet.

18:55

FIM/UEM Supertwin eliminations round 2:

Ronny Aasen 6.925/203.72 bye

Svein Olav Rolfstad broke in the last round, so Ronny took the bye riding on a cushion of nitro flame, shutting off at about 1200 feet.

Hans Olav Olstad 7.172/195.68 def. Lorenz Staüble 7.506/165.35

A nice 0.091 reaction time from Lo to Hans Olav's 0.143, Lo's bike then started to head for the centre line and he leaned it over so far that the exhaust grounded on the track in a shower of sparks. Lo got off the throttle and then stabbed it again to try to stay ahead of Hans Olav, but Hans Olav had already got past.

18:40

FIA Top Methanol Funny Car eliminations round 2:

Arvid Grødem 5.955/239.31 def. Kjell Sjoblom 6.303/214.45

Arvid strapped a huge 0.075 to 0.374 holeshot on Kjell, 0.128 to sixty feet to Kjell's 1.063, another five-second pass for Arvid and his first-ever final round appearance.

Ulf Leanders 5.902/240.42 def. Niclas Andersson 6.034/236.69

0.039 RT for Niclas to Ulf's 0.073, but Ulf had the quicker sixty foot time and started to pull away, nearly 0.1 seconds and 5 mph quicker at half track and taking the stripe by 0.096. Oil was found in Ulf's lane.

18:30

FIA Pro Stock eliminations round 2:

Jimmy Ålund 7.322/175.05 bye

0.071 reaction, 1.035 to sixty feet, then Jimma hit shake and started to pedal the car. The car was really moving around in the second half of the track but Jimmy had it all under control, he shut off early in the absence of a competitor.

Magnus Hansson 8.387/119.05 def. Ulf Jonsson 7.205/192.23 red light

Ulf knew he had to try hard for this one and tried too hard, 0.012 red light. Magnus ran down the left hand side of the lane, the car moving around some, and eventually he got off the throttle - I guess he realised the win light was on.

18:25

FIA Top Fuel Dragster eliminations round 2:

Micke Kågered 7.971/113.35 bye, Lex Joon shut off

And now the Championship gets really complex! Lex was shut down on the start line for a fluid leak. Micke was again signalled by Knut Söderquist to put in a short pass and he stayed on the throttle to about sixty feet and rolled through.

Tommy Möller 6.161/180.75 def. Susanne Callin 15.212/70.65

Susanne had lane choice and changed lanes - she was originally in the lane with Lex's fluid leak but switched during the clean-up. Susanne's tyres didn't light during the burnout and the inevitable happened at the hit, the tyres went up in smoke and there was a flash of flame from the engine. Tommy clocked a 0.826 sixty foot time, we think the quickest ever sixty in Europe, but then the fun really started as the tyres shook, Tommy pedalled, the tyres went up in smoke, Tommy pedalled again and the car started to make violent moves around the lane and he pedalled again! Somehow the engine stayed in one piece but with a Championship at stake Tommy was going to give it everything he had.

As things stand now, if Tommy wins the event, and Micke or Tommy set Low ET, then Tommy is Champion. If Micke wins the final, and neither Tommy nor Micke set Low ET in the final, then Lex is Champion.

18:10

NDRS Bilsport Pro Modified eliminations round 2:

Patrick Wikström 6.304/221.45 def. Marc Meihuizen 6.473/215.38

0.164 to 0.182 in Patrick's favour off the start line, 0.987 at sixty feet for Patrick to Marc's 1.077. Patrick's run was far from straight and he had a brief pedal towards half track but he took the stripe by 0.187. A new PB for Marc though, well done Marc!

Roger Johansson 10.062/100.20 def. Norbert Kuno DQ no time

Norbert was slow into stage so he was bulbed. Roger hit very bad shake off the line and was off the throttle very quickly indeed, rolling through to take the automatic win.

Håkan Nilsson 6.414/217.37 def. Gordon Appleton 6.692/167.13 red light

Gordon pulled a huge 0.218 red light handing Håkan the win - but get this, despite Gordon's 'advantage' from leaving early, Håkan caught Gordon right on the finish line with a 0.000 win margin displayed!

Andy Robinson 12.032/67.70 def. Mats Eriksson 22.647/32.77

An even bigger red light for Mats, 0.394 on the wrong side and he got off the throttle after hitting shake off the line. Gus hit shake at sixty feet after clocking 1.022 and got off the throttle, I'm guessing he saw Mats' red light.

18:00

FIA Top Methanol Dragster eliminations round 1:

Dave Wilson 5.561/252.88 def. John Parkinson 10.549/67.54

John Parkinson didn't get the tyres to light on the burnout, new Champion Grumpy pulled a 100-footer to show him how it's done. 0.958 to sixty foot to Grumpy, the tyres looked like they were really shaking too, John was pedalling the dragster over the first eighth then got off the throttle as Grumpy pulled away.

Krister Johansson 5.459/260.14 def. Timo Habermann 6.382/221.45

Timo got away first 0.123 to 0.222 but from then on it was all about Krister, 0.945 to sixty feet to Timo's 1.043, 3.634 at a huge 212.42 at half track, and easily backing up Friday's 261.29 for a new speed record, well done Krister! Timo tried very hard indeed, staying on the throttle although the car was making some serious moves around the lane, but Krister got there first by 0.823

Rob Turner 5.579/248.84 def. Peter Schöfer 5.576/255.43

This was the race for second and third places in the 2005 Championship. Gittli Koller of Peter Schöfer's team told us earlier "If we are to lose number two then we don't want to do it because of rain". This really was a classic drag race, Rob away first 0.116 to 0.134, Peter's sixty foot time far quicker at 0.905 to 0.944, but Rob was squeaking ahead at half track as Peter's dragster moved about the lane some. 0.015 at the stripe, which comes out at 5.61 feet.

17:45

FIM/UEM Pro Stock Bike eliminations round 1:

Anders Abrahamsson 7.581/176.59 def. Len Paget 12.475/80.61

Len left first 0.122 to 0.178 but he quickly hit the transmission problem which has plagued him this weekend, Anders' bike started to drift out of the groove but he stayed on the throttle and steered it back.

Chris Hope 7.425/176.56 def. Richard Gipp 7.686/172.33

Nice RTs of 0.060 to 0.089 in Richard's favour but Chris made up the advantage by 330 feet and took the stripe by 0.232, we think a new PB for Chris.

Roger Pettersson 7.381/183.77 bye, Ray Debben broke

Ray shut off and pushed back before staging, Roger resisted the temptation to save the engine and put in a fine, straight pass.

Martin Bishop 7.722/170.47 bye, Anders Larsson no show

Anders did all sorts of nastiness in his engine in qualifying on Friday so Martin took the bye on his spare engine, his best ET of the weekend.

17:40

FIM/UEM Top Fuel Bike eliminations round 1:

Jamie Sneddon no time def. Roel Koedam 6.514/161.98 DQ hit timing equipment

Jamie got away first 0.199 to 0.241 in the Super Street Bike's favour, Roel overhauled him in very short order but the Top Fuel Bike was aiming straight for the top end reflectors and sure enough Roel hit the reflectors and disqualified himself.

Neil Midgley 6.770/188.37 def. Tim Blakemore 6.821/187.42

Jay Regan is over from the USA to help with Midgo's Funny Bike and he was very evident on the start line. This was a great race, the first time I think I've seen two Funny Bikes run sixes side-by-side although strictly these bikes are TFBs this weekend. Midgo got a big start line advantage 0.144 to 0.223, identical sixty foot times of 1.140, Midgo taking the stripe by 0.130. There was smoke from Midgo's bike towards the top end and a mist of oil was found in his lane. Tim won't be unhappy getting deep into the sixes again.

Steve Carey 10.426/76.81 bye, Steve Woollatt broke

Steve W's bike was shut off after the burnout so Steve C took the bye. Steve feathered the throttle at about 120 feet and then got off the throttle altogether at about 300 feet as the bike made a move to the right.

Gary Jones 7.495/179.28 def. Ian King 10.233/81.50

Ian strapped a 0.244 to 0.432 holeshot on Gary, Ian's rear tyre started to haze and he feathered the throttle then a belt broke and flew off the TFB. Gary overtook Ian and clocked a new personal best ET, well done Gary and Dave! Ian will be happy enough with his 2005 title, well done Ian.

16:45

FIM/UEM Supertwin eliminations round 1:

Svein Olav Rolfstad 7.150/160.06 def. Hans Christian Nilsen 7.717/177.84

Hans Christian left first 0.140 to 0.285, Svein Olav's bike was trying to buck him off but he held onto it but suddenly there was a bang and a cloud of smoke right on the finish line. Word came back from the top end that Svein Olav's engine had put out a piston, Svein Olav is fine.

Ronny Aasen 6.745/207.18 def. Joachim Riemer 13.196/60.64

Ronny visibly got away first 0.165 to 0.361 and had half a second on Acka by 330 feet, Acka was off the throttle before half track but Ronny was on a hard, straight pass, his best run of the weekend.

Hans Olav Olstad 6.828/182.04 def. Ton Pels 6.749/189.04 DQ hit track equipment

Hans Olav got a big advantage off the line but Ton quickly caught and passed him, however Ton's bike headed for the centre line and he hit both top end timing reflectors. This casts some doubt on the displayed time and speeds but more importantly hitting track equipment is a breach of UEM rules so Ton was disqualified. This makes Ronny Aasen 2005 FIM/UEM Supertwin Champion, well done Ronny!

Lorenz Staüble 6.801/212.52 def. Svein Gottenberg broke

Svein got a few feet off the line and there was a bang, a flash of flame, parts flew from the bike including the crown of a piston which rolled down the track, and Svein took his left hand off the handlebars in pretty short order. Svein is just fine, the top of the engine appears to be missing though. A fine, straight pass from Lo, another personal best and a huge speed, well done Lo!

16:30

FIA Top Methanol Funny Car eliminations round 1:

Ulf Leanders 5.991/230.54 def. Urs Erbacher 5.907/248.63 red light

The first time I have ever seen Urs red light and it was by a mere 0.002. Ulf had the much better sixty foot time at 0.965 to Urs' 1.008, Urs' half-track numbers were much better and he got there first by 0.174 but Ulf took the automatic win.

Niclas Andersson 6.057/236.89 def. Martin Lundqvist 6.402/215.15

Niclas strapped a 0.043 to 0.076 holeshot on Martin, Martin hit shake and pedalled twice as the car moved around the lane. Niclas went straight, driving through a tiny amount of shake, he was way out in front by half track and won by 0.378.

Kjell Sjoblom 6.044/224.02 def. Dan Larsen 5.927/239.55 red light

Dan pulled a huge 0.117 red light which handed the win to Kjell and the 2005 Championship to Urs Erbacher, congratulations to Urs. A storming run for Kjell, a new Personal Best and into the semi final although there was a big cloud of smoke from Kjell's car right on the finish line. The track was checked and nothing untoward was found.

Arvid Grødem 5.884/246.08 def. Leif Andréasson 5.920/241.67

Arvid was away first by 0.034 to 0.098, Leif's sixty foot was better at 0.983 to 1.018 but Arvid started pulling it back around half track. Both drivers hung onto their cars through shake, Arvid getting very close to the guardrail as his car made violent moves but he stayed with it and clocked a new personal best and took the win by 0.100.

16:10

FIA Pro Stock eliminations round 1:

Trackside conditions at the start of this session were 17.2 C, 91% humidity, and 29.68 inches of air.

Ulf Jonsson 7.136/193.11 def. Michael Malmgren 7.110/194.91

Ulf strapped a 0.149 to 0.272 holeshot on Michael and had the quicker incrementals as far as half track but Ulf stayed ahead despite going out of the groove and took the stripe by 0.96.

Magnus Hansson 6.992/198.29 def. Jan Murén 18.821/61.57

Jan left first 0.064 to 0.076 but then something very bizarre happened, Jan's Grand Am sat there with the rear tyres spinning - Jan's 2.785 sixty foot time tells the whole story of this race. A straight and solid pass from Magnus, no sign of shake.

Jimmy Ålund 6.968/198.25 def. Rickard Sundblom 9.404/105.63

Strictly Jimmy took the Championship by turning up this afternoon, congratulations Jimmy! Jimmy was away first 0.071 to 0.080, Rickard hit shake at about 120 feet and tried to drive through it to about 250 feet, the car was moving for the guardrail and Rickard got off it as Jimmy was long gone.

16:00

FIA Top Fuel Dragster eliminations round 1:

Lex Joon 4.933/304.19 def. Gary Page 8.759/86.69

Lex was away first 0.122 to 0.173, Gary had the quicker sixty foot time 0.909 to 0.920 but then the MPM dragster really dug in, 254 mph at half track which is the fastest eighth speed this weekend. The car was really accelerating hard at the top end and Lex took Low ET and high speed of the weekend so far. Gary hit shake at sixty feet, the CBD dragster moved to the right, Gary pedalled but then the rear tyres went up in smoke at 200 feet and he got off the throttle.

Tommy Möller 10.057/92.94 def. Andy Carter 10.460/84.87 red light

Andy pulled a huge 0.365 red light, Tommy actually left early too by 0.008 but he must have realised that Andy had gone first since he got off the throttle after a 0.849 sixty foot althought there were shake marks in his lane from ten to a hundred and fifty or so feet. Andy clocked 0.880 to sixty feet then he too got off the throttle.

Susanne Callin 5.025/247.11 def. Jon Webster 5.171/276.12

Jon away first 0.160 to 0.186, Susanne's sixty foot time was much quicker than Jon's (the times just disappeared off the console before I could take them down). Jon pedalled twice for shake, Susanne's dragster stuck to the track but there was a rooster tail of vapour from the car from about 600 feet all the way to the finish line, Susanne got off the throttle at about 1100 feet but she had enough of a lead on Jon to take the win.

Micke Kågered 9.828/99.76 bye, Jöran Persåker broke

Jöran didn't get reverse after the burnout - crew member Mark Turner told us that a cable broke - so Micke took the bye, as he pulled forward to stage car owner Knut Söderquist ran into Micke's field of vision and signalled him to make a short pass. Micke was on the throttle to sixty feet, 0.907 at that point.

As things stand now, Lex will win the Championship if he wins his semi; if Lex doesn't win his semi then Tommy needs to win the event and set Low ET to take the title.

On another note entirely we understand that routine breath tests were undertaken in the Pro pits this morning; those racers tested passed.

15:00

NDRS Bilsport Pro Modified eliminations round 1:

Mats Eriksson 7.104/195.89 def. Kent Trenneman 16.283/54.08

Mats in as an alternate for Håkan Fällström. On the green Mats got away first 0.074 to 0.137, Kent hit shake almost instantly and got off the throttle. Mats started to hit shake at about eighty feet and then the Green Gobin turned hard left at about 300 feet. Mats pedalled and got back on it to take the stripe by 9.242 seconds.

Marc Meihuizen 6.609/212.26 def. Micke Gullquist 6.974/205.77

A 300-foot burnout from Micke before this one, then he strapped a massive 0.167 to 0.501 holeshot on Marc. Micke then hit shake from about fifty feet, tried to drive through it and pedalled which was all the opportunity Marc needed to get past him, 0.031 seconds at the stripe.

Roger Johansson 6.567/189.02 def. Urban Johansson 12.493/63.84

Roger was away first 0.055 to 0.183, Urban clocked 1.029 to sixty feet but then got off the throttle at about 200 feet. A nice straight run from Roger in these cold conditions, off the throttle and chutes out a touch early but low ET of the round so far.

Håkan Nilsson 6.431/217.24 def. Danny Cockerill 6.631/214.34

A burndown before this race, Håkan went in first. Håkan was away first 0.098 to 0.107, Danny quicker to sixty feet 1.045 to 1.067, but then Danny pedalled at about 300 feet and Håkan was out in front by the eighth.

Gordon Appleton 6.784/169.69 def. Lars Olsson 14.323/61.49

Another burndown before this one, Gordon went in first and got away first 0.111 to 0.118. Lars was shaking by the Tree, Gordon's 1.039 to Lars' 1.223 betraying the shake, Lars got off the throttle. Gordon went the long way round and there was a blue haze from the Camaro just before the finish line.

Norbert Kuno 6.659/215.35 def. Freddy Fagerström 6.874/206.45

A burndown this time too, Norbert cracked first and Freddy hung back an extra beat before staging. Freddy away first, 0.119 to 0.125, Norbert was quicker to sixty feet 1.087 to 1.102. Freddy hung onto the pickup driving through shake but Norbert stuck to the track and was quicker and faster at the eighth and stayed out in front.

Patrick Wikström 6.576/214.09 def. Bruno Bader 6.602/213.29

A three-hundred foot burnout for Patrick and he rolled to half track but as ever backed up very quickly. Bruno went into stage very quickly, Patrick hung on a few seconds but then went in just as Chief Starter Ian Marshall started to walk towards the Camaro to chivvy him. Patrick visibly left first 0.128 to 0.196, 1.041 to 1.051 to sixty feet in Patrick's favour. Bruno's 'Vette ran very close to the left guardrail all the way down the track, Patrick stayed out in front and took the stripe by 0.094. PBs for Bruno.

Andy Robinson 6.351/202.71 def. Rolf Amman no time

Rolf rolled through stage so Andy took the automatic win, just as the Tree ran Rolf had the car in reverse and stabbed the throttle but it was too late. Andy had a little shake from forty to one hundred feet, a stunning 1.014 sixty foot time and clocked the low ET of the round. Sharkman at trackside reported that the revs on Andy's engine went up just before the finish line as if the tyres were turning.

11:00

The drizzle has stopped and the track crew are well advanced on the job of drying the surface again. We have just had the presentation of number one qualifiers in front of an appreciative crowd.

The first presentation was by UK Funny Bike racer Sarah Jane Head who presented the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance with more than �3000. Scary was very badly injured in an accident at last year's Easter Thunderball and has spent much of the time since her recovery raising funds for the ambulance which came to her aid and helped to save her life.

Scary presented the cheque and a framed photograph with a thank-you inscription to Ron Murphy of the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance. "The helicopter will have been in service for two years on 1st October", Ron told us. "So far it has attended more than two and a half thousand callouts". "I wanted to collect �3000 and we have done that", said Scary. "I would like to thank all of the racers and spectators, Santa Pod Racers Club, and Santa Pod Raceway for contributing". The total will rise more yet since Scary went straight from the presentation back to the pits to continue collecting.

9:00

Good morning and welcome from Santa Pod Raceway for day four of the FIA European Finals. It's race day and we're here to bring you all the news in association with American Car Imports.

The Webster Race Engineering/MPM Oil webcam is on-line and is broadcasting a picture every two minutes. You can view the webcam via the Event Index page.

We must start with a big Well Done to the track crew who started work at 5:00 this morning to dry the track after yesterday's deluge. These guys just have not stopped working all weekend and getting out of bed in what for the rest of us is the middle of the night is above and beyond and I'm sure that everyone will join us in thanking the track crew and race officials for all of their hard work.

The crew are facing even more work now since it started to drizzle at 8:30, hard enough to dampen the track again. Trackside conditions are 14.9 C, 98% humidity, and 29.62 inches of air.

The traditional raceday Good Morning to our US correspondents Ed O'Connell and Kathy Hileman who are tuned in from New Hampshire, hope you are enjoying your own race at Epping, guys. Hello also to our good buddy Christina Lidström who is tuned in from Sweden; to Ian Caseley, Perfect Light Award sponsor Fay Fischer and their daughter Grace; and to Cath and Tig Napier who are glued to the F5 key.

Stay tuned and we'll bring you all the news as soon as the track dries.