Colin Millar raced to victory by defeating reigning FIA European champion Susanne Callin in the Top Fuel final for the Summit Racing Equipment Internationals at Tierp Arena, round two of the FIA European Drag Racing Championship. In Top Methanol Tony Bryntesson claimed the win, while Jere Rantaniemi defeated Andres Arnover in the Pro Modified final and Simon Ekengren surprised Robin Norén in the final of the Pro Stock category.
There were many upsets and surprises at Tierp Arena during the eliminations of the Summit Racing Equipment Internationals, round two of the 2026 FIA European Drag Racing Championship. Some favourites and number one qualifiers failed, others surprised or lived up to their expectations.
In Top Fuel the final was run between number one qualifier Colin Millar, from Scotland, and reigning FIA champion and winner of the first FIA round at Santa Pod, Susanne Callin, from Sweden. Both drivers had a good start, but when Callin lost traction, it was loud and clear that Millar would claim the win. In 4.55 seconds the RF Motorsport driver won his first race in his maiden year in Top Fuel.
In the first round of eliminations in Pro Modified the top eight from qualifying all claimed the win over the numbers nine to sixteen qualifiers. As a result, two title contenders who did not qualify very well, David Vegter and Mats Eriksson, were already out of competition. In the quarter finals number one qualifier Jere Rantaniemi carried on from where he left off by defeating Jens Lönngren, the surprise number eight qualifier.
In the semifinals Rantaniemi, the reigning FIA European champion, defeated Stian Rusånes, who had been too quick for multiple champion Michael Gullquist in the quarter finals.
On the other side of the ladder number two qualifier Michel Tooren advance to the semifinals after defeating Fredrik Fagerström. In the semifinals the Pro Dutch Racing driver had to face Andres Arnover, winner of the first round at Santa Pod, who won his quarter final run over Benny Strand. With 5.846 seconds Tooren had the better ET, but Arnover’s reaction time was a bit quicker, just enough for the driver from Estonia to cross the finish line first and advanced to the final.
In a close final Rantaniemi stormed to a great 5.80 seconds to claim the win over Arnover, who made a good run as well with 5.83 seconds, but it was not enough to beat the FIA European champion from Finland.
In Top Methanol there was a major upset in the first elimination round as number two qualifier and reigning FIA champion Sandro Bellio lost traction, handing the win to number seven qualifier and rookie Top Methanol driver Isak Lagg.
In the semifinals Lagg was defeated by Santa Pod winner Timo Habermann, who claimed the win over Isak’s father, Jonny Lagg in the first round.
On the other side of the ladder number one qualifier Tony Bryntesson advanced to the final after defeating Jonas Staflund in the first round, while in the semifinals Tina Høst Nedregård, who had been too quick for Silvio Strauch in the first round, pulled a red light, handing the win to Bryntesson.
Because Habermann suffered severe engine damage in the semifinal, Bryntesson had a bye run in the final and automatically claimed the win.
In Pro Stock the top four from qualifying all advanced to the semifinals. In the semifinals there was a major upset when number one qualifier Jimmy Ålund had a bad reaction time and lost traction short before the finish line, handing the win to Simon Ekengren.
In the other semifinal reigning FIA European champion Robin Norén recorded a great 6.67 seconds to defeat Richard Sundblom from Finland.
In the all Swedish final there was another major upset as Norén had traction problems and saw Ekengren claim the win in a great 6.67 seconds.
The FIA European Drag Racing Championship continues within two weeks with the NitrOlympX at the HockenheimRing, Germany.
Text and photos: Remco Scheelings
For all 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