EDRC: Drag racing roars back to life as Santa Pod opens the season

Sport news ERBACHER VS CALLIN IN TOP FUEL TITLE REMATCH Defending champion Jndia Erbacher returns after her dramatic title win last season, where she climbed from third to first in the final run of the year. The Swiss star leads the Top Fuel entry as one of Europe’s standout female racers. Sweden’s Susanne Callin, who missed the title by just 13 points in 2024, is back in her RF Motorsport car with refreshed Slick Tricks Racing livery. She enters determined to make amends after reliability issues during pre-season testing. British favourite Liam Jones returns after a five-year break, driving the same RF Motorsport machine his partner Maja Udtian campaigned in 2019. Sweden’s Dennis Nilsson, with Europe’s only canopy dragster, adds to a compact but competitive field. LAGG HEADS GROWING TOP METHANOL FIELD Swede Jonny Lagg defends his Top Methanol title, bringing the number one back to dragsters after several Funny Car-dominated years. His Team Sweden teammate Tony Bryntesson, runner-up last year, returns alongside third-placed Sandro Bellio, the sole Funny Car in the opening round. German contender Silvio Strauch and returning Norwegian-Swedish racer Tina Høst Nedregård bolster the entry. Nedregård impressed in her 2023 debut and now makes her Santa Pod debut in a Jedborn Motorsport dragster. RANTANIEMI FACES PACKED PRO MODIFIED FIELD Finland’s Jere Rantaniemi leads the Pro Modified category after a surprise 2024 title win in his turbo-powered machine. Close behind, Dutch driver David Vegter and Estonian Andres Arnover are major threats. Watch for consistent names like Michel Tooren, Swiss veteran Bruno Bader, and the returning Kim Kristiansen and Marck Harteveld. The UK is well represented with Andy Robinson, Kevin Slyfield, Wayne Nicholson, and others all capable of springing a surprise. Over 16 cars are expected, with qualifying set to be one of the most competitive sessions of the upcoming weekend. ÅLUND BEGINS PRO STOCK TITLE DEFENCE Thirteen-time champion Jimmy Ålund returns in his Summit Racing Camaro aiming to extend his record. His Swedish rivals Robin Norén and Michael Malmgren lead the challenge, along with the likes of Stefan Ernryd, Lasse Britsmar, and Simon Ekengren. A surprise debut comes from Germany’s Henry Riehl, entering a rare Mercedes CLK-bodied Pro Stocker. The 2025 season-opener will run across three days at Santa Pod Raceway. Qualifying is to take place on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 May, with eliminations following on Monday 26 May. With reigning champions, returning names and new talent across all four FIA classes, there is plenty to look forward to in 2025. European Drag Racing Championship Drag Racing EDRC All fia sport SEASON 2025 Sport Circuit 1SportEuropean Drag Racing ChampionshipCircuitAll fia sportSEASON 2025Drag RacingEDRC00 Thursday, May 22, 2025 - 2:50pm Thursday, May 22, 2025 - 2:50pm