Susanne Callin claimed the provisional number one qualifying position in Top Fuel at the first day of qualifying for the Summit Racing Equipment Internationals, round two of the FIA European Drag Racing Championship at Tierp Arena, Sweden. In Top Methanol Sandro Bellio is the leader after two qualifying runs, while in Pro Modified and Pro Stock Jere Rantaniemi and Jimmy Ålund recorded the quickest run and claimed the provisional number one qualifying position.

Great weather conditions, sunshine and a cool wind made it to a good first day of qualifying for the Summit Racing Equipment Internationals. Especially in the second session there were many improvements and changes in the qualifying order. With another sunny and dry day on the Saturday, it will be a day worth visiting to see the fastest and quickest cars in Europe.

This time Top Fuel was not the most exciting class of the day. After two runs home favourite Susanne Callin is the leader, with her RF Motorsport teammate Colin Millar in second position. Both will definitely try to do better on Saturday as Callin is the leader with 6.56 seconds. The Slick Tricks Racing driver will be looking for a 3-second run.

In Top Methanol reigning FIA European champion Sandro Bellio claimed the provisional number one qualifying position on his second run of the day, after the driver from Belgium had to abord his first attempt.

Timo Habermann, winner of the first round of the FIA European Championship, is in second position with 5,42 seconds, with home favourite Tony Bryntesson in third with 5.45 seconds. Silvio Strauch is fourth (5.530 seconds), with Tina Høst Nedregård close behind with 5.536 seconds.

With drivers from Belgium, Germany, Sweden and Norway, the top five is an international field.

The same is true for Pro Modified, where drivers from Finland, The Netherlands, Norway, Estonia and Sweden are in the top five after two runs. Stian Rusånes was the surprise leader after the first run with 5.86 seconds.

But on his second run reigning FIA European champion Jere Rantaniemi stormed to a great 5.81 seconds to claim the provisional number one position. Michel Tooren proved his great form from the last couple of weeks to record a great 5.82 seconds to claim the number two position.

Behind Rusånes, Andres Arnover, winner at Santa Pod in May, is the number four with 5.88 seconds, with Michael Gullqvist fifth with 6.00 seconds. Benny Strand and Jens Lönngren surprised with great 6.10 and 6.11 second runs and are the provisional numbers six and seven. But with drivers as David Vegter, Roger Johansson, Mats Eriksson and Marck Hartveld outside the top six, there will definitely be many changes in positions on the second day of qualifying.

In Pro Stock reigning FIA European champion Robin Norén was the leader after the first run with a great 6.63 seconds.

But on his second run Jimmy Ålund claimed the provisional number one position with 6.61 seconds. Richard Sundblom is third with 6.68 seconds and winner of the first round of the championship, Stefan Ernryd, fourth with 6.74 seconds.

Qualifying for the Summit Racing Equipment Internationals, round two of the FIA European Drag Racing Championship, continues on the Saturday. It will definitely be a great day.

Text and photos: Remco Scheelings

For all qualifying results: https://www.dragracing.eu/results.asp

For photos of the Summit Racing Equipment Internationals see the gallery on:

https://dragracingeurope.org/summit-racing-internats-6-9-aug