Santa Pod, September 10, 2012 - MPM-driver David Vegter had a European Finals weekend at Santa Pod Raceway he could only have dreamed about. In the last race of the FIA European Championship the Pro Mod-racer set a stunning personal best of 6.114 seconds, was second best in qualifying and advanced to the final in eliminations by defeating FIA European Championships runner-up Bruno Bader in the semi-finals. The runner-up position at the European Finals was the first podium finish for the young Dutch driver since he stepped up to Pro Mod only a few years ago and with the runner-up points the MPM-driver jumped from ninth to sixth in the 2012 FIA European Pro Modified Championship.
Only two weeks after the Scandinavian Internationals at Tierp Arena, where David Vegter set a personal best of 6.175 seconds, the European Finals at Santa Pod was the next stop for the MPM Pro Mod-racer. For their sixth and last race of the FIA European Championship the teams were back at 'the home of European Drag Racing'. Sunny and warm conditions and a massive crowd made the 2012 European Finals one to remember, especially for David Vegter and his team. As usual with 15 teams Pro Modified had the most entrants of all FIA European Championship classes.
In the first round of qualifying Vegter already made headlines by setting a stunning new personal best of 6.114 seconds, taking the number two qualifying position. In the next run tyreshake caused some light damage to the '67 Camaro, but the crew did an excellent job as on day two of qualifying the MPM-driver was back to form with 6.35 and 6.22sec runs. In all these runs Vegter was in the top four and with his top speeds of 232 and 233.69mph the MPM-driver was close to his personal best set at Tierp Arena. Because nobody could beat Vegter's 6.114 seconds, the Dutch MPM-driver ended qualifying as the number two behind leader Bert-Ove Olofsson. An excellent job as Bruno Bader, number two in the championship, was in third while leader Michael Gullqvist was thirteenth.
As the number two qualifier Vegter had to race MPM-teammate Marc Meihuizen in the first round of eliminations. But after serious transmission and engine damage in the second round of qualifying, Meihuizen was out of competition. In the quarterfinal Graham Ellis was the MPM-drivers next opponent, but the English Pro Mod-racer had engine problems too and in 6.56 seconds Vegter was in the semi-finals. But there Vegter had to race Bruno Bader, the tough Swiss Corvette-pilot and still in the race for the championship. In identical reaction times of 0.114sec the two left the line, but in a very close race Vegter's Camaro was at the finish line first. With a 6.212 for the Swiss racer and a winning 6.174 seconds for Vegter, the MPM-driver advanced to the final. The first FIA EC-final for the young Dutchman since stepping up to Pro Mod only a few years ago. In the final Vegter had to face Michael Gullqvist, the just crowned and 2011 FIA European Pro Mod champion. At the startline Vegter took a slight advantage, but then tyreshake hit the Camaro and although Vegter drove through it, the Dutch racer lost a few tenth of a second and with 6.152 against 6.337 Gullqvist took the win light. But with a runner-up position a dream came true for Vegter and it felt like a win for the MPM-driver, his crew and his fans. The crew made that loud and clear at the podium where Vegter was taken on and over their shoulders. With his runner-up position Vegter scored so many points, the MPM-driver jumped from ninth to sixth in the FIA European Pro Modified Championship.
Vegter and his '67 Camaro still have one race to go this year and what a special race that is, as it is in his home country the Netherlands. Vegter Pro Mod Racing has entered the Pro Mod battle, a race with eight international Pro Mods team, fighting for low e.t. at the Dragstrip Drachten 1/8 mile. This race is on the calendar for October 5, 6 and 7 and will be during the Drachten Finals at Dragstrip Drachten. The only chance this year to see and hear the European Finals runner-up in the Netherlands.
- Author
- Remco Scheelings
- Photographer
- Remco Scheelings
David Vegter Dragracing FIA European Finals Main event MPM Racing MPM Sports Pro mod Santa Pod
