EDRC: season fires into life as Santa Pod hosts traditional opener

Sport news The championship once again features rounds at Santa Pod, Tierp Arena and Hockenheimring before concluding with the European Finals back at Santa Pod in September. In Top Fuel, reigning champion Susanne Callin returns to defend the title she secured in dramatic fashion at the final round of the 2025 season. The Swede, driving for RF Motorsport, heads into the new campaign aiming to repeat last year’s success after edging out team-mate Liam Jones and former champion Jndia Erbacher in a close championship battle. RF Motorsport fields a revised line-up for 2026, with Scottish driver Colin Millar stepping into the team’s second Top Fuel dragster. Millar is well known to European fans through his appearances with the Flyin Fyfer Anglia and now graduates to the sport’s premier category. Erbacher, meanwhile, is expected to be one of Callin’s main challengers once again. The Swiss driver finished third in last year’s standings after narrowly missing out on a second consecutive crown and arrives at Santa Pod determined to reclaim the number one plate for her Monster Energy-backed operation. The Top Fuel field may be compact, but competition remains intense, with additional entries expected to join later in the season as teams balance the significant costs involved in campaigning at the highest level of the sport. Elsewhere, Top Methanol continues its recent resurgence with seven entries confirmed for the opening round. Reigning champion Sandro Bellio leads the field, while former champion Timo Habermann makes a welcome return after a lengthy absence. Tina Høst Nedregård also returns following the crash that disrupted her 2025 campaign, while several new-generation drivers are set to strengthen the category later in the season. Pro Modified once again boasts the largest and most diverse field in the championship, with 20 cars entered for Santa Pod and representatives from 10 nations. Double defending champion Jere Rantaniemi starts as the benchmark, but strong opposition is expected from Marck Harteveld, Andres Arnover, Michel Tooren and David Vegter in what is likely to be another closely contested season. In Pro Stock, reigning champion Robin Norén returns to defend his title against 13-time champion Jimmy Ålund and a competitive Swedish contingent, while Germany’s Henry Riehl continues development of the class’s only non-American-bodied entry, a Mercedes CLK. Qualifying for the FIA categories begins on Saturday and Sunday, with eliminations scheduled for Bank Holiday Monday. European Drag Racing Championship Drag Racing All fia sport SEASON 2026 Sport Circuit 1SportEuropean Drag Racing ChampionshipCircuitAll fia sportSEASON 2026Drag Racing00 Friday, May 22, 2026 - 11:53am Friday, May 22, 2026 - 11:53am