Tierp, June 17, 2013 - With three 6.0 seconds qualifying runs out of four attempts, MPM-driver Marc Meihuizen and his '68 Pontiac were one of the fastest and most consistent Pro Modified combinations at Tierp Arena’s Sweden Internationals. After a fifth position in qualifying, a good race result in eliminations should be possible, but tyre shake at the same spot at the track where so many others had problems, made an early end to the excellent performance of the MPM-driver in the first round of eliminations of the second round of the FIA European Drag Racing Championship.
With a sensational 5.913 seconds first qualifying position at the Main Event at Santa Pod Raceway, MPM-driver Marc Meihuizen opened the season in great style. No wonder, J.W.R. Racing went to the Sweden Internationals, the second round of the FIA European Drag Racing Championship at Tierp Arena, with high expectations. Pro Modified is very popular in Scandinavia so the race in Sweden had 25 very competitive combinations on the entry list.
In the first round of qualifying Meihuizen and his J.W.R. Racing '68 Pontiac made clear what their intentions were by crossing the finish line in an excellent 6.09 seconds. With that run the MPM-driver was number three after the first round, but the computer data told the team the run could have been faster. The second run was one to forget. "Before we had to run there were some oildowns and breaks, so I had to wait very long in the sun burning car and lost my concentration. When it was my turn, everything went wrong", said Meihuizen about this run. But still after day one, the 6.09 seconds from the first run gave the MPM-driver an excellent number three position.
The third round Saturday morning was a 100% hit for Meihuizen. In an arrow straight run the MPM Pontiac crossed the finish line in 6.049 seconds, a great number in this competitive field. The fourth run was an easy 6.09 seconds and so the J.W.R. Racing Firebird had three 6.0 seconds runs in a row. Talking about speed and consistency? "It’s almost unbelievable how easy it is to go fast with this car at the moment. I shifted too early two times and still we ran 6.09 seconds. This engine combination is so strong", said Meihuizen about the Joeri Woudenberg tuned combination.
With his fifth qualifying position Meihuizen was the best Dutchman and had to race Niclas Andersson in the first round of eliminations. But there it went wrong. As one of the first pairings to go to the start line, Meihuizen chose the left hand lane. But immediately after Meihuizen left the line, the '68 Pontiac hit tyre shake and to save the car, the MPM-driver had to lift the throttle and leave the win to Andersson. Looking at the numbers, Meihuizen knew the win could have been his as Andersson passed the finish line in 6.23 seconds and 365 k/ph while the MPM Pontiac, despite all tyre shake delays, passed the finish line in 6.49 seconds and 380 k/ph! "Looking back you can say we chose the wrong lane, because so many others got problems there too, but at that moment we couldn't know", said a disappointed but uncomplaining Meihuizen.
Meihuizen doesn't have to wait that long for revenge. The third round of the FIA European Championship will be from July 5 until 7 at Alastaro in Finland. Alastaro can be very fast, but sometimes the track is very difficult to deal with as sand comes over the track surface. It will not be as good as Santa Pod and Tierp, but Meihuizen will do his very best to be as fast as the track can handle and come back home with a good result.
- Author
- Remco Scheelings
- Photographer
- Remco Scheelings
Dragracing FIA European Championship Main event Marc Meihuizen MPM Racing MPM Sports Pro mod Tierp Arena
