Santa Pod, May 28 2013 - It was hard to believe, but the numbers really lit up on the scoreboard: 5.913 seconds! With this phenomenal record run in the first round of the FIA European Championship, Marc Meihuizen made clear what we can expect from the MPM-driver and his J.W.R. Racing Pontiac Firebird this season. This new personal best was more than enough to bring Meihuizen the pole position in qualifying and leave all other Pro Mod racers far behind. But still the MPM-driver did not get his reward in eliminations, as bad luck made an early end to his shining Main Event performance.
The FIA European Drag Racing Championship took off with last weekend's Main Event at Santa Pod Raceway. With 19 drivers from six different countries Pro Modified, the class MPM-driver Marc Meihuizen is part of, had the biggest and most international entry list of all FIA European Championship classes. For Meihuizen and his J.W.R. Racing it was a close call, as in America ordered parts arrived only one week before the race. The team had to work around the clock to rebuild the engine and even had to adjust some parts to get the Pontiac ready for the first race.
At the first day of qualifying it was clear the team did a great job. A 6.72 seconds in the first run was followed by a 6.32 seconds, and that put Meihuizen into third position. In Sunday’s third round of qualifying the MPM-driver showed what he and his '68 Firebird were capable of. In an arrow straight run Meihuizen passed the finish line in a phenomenal 5.913 seconds and 242.51 mph. For Meihuizen the dream of breaking the 6-seconds barrier came true and as even multiple European champion Michael Gullqvist (5.94 seconds) couldn't improve Meihuizen's time, the MPM-driver was the number one qualifier.
After looking at the computer data crewchief Joeri Woudenberg immediately knew there was more to come from the J.W.R. Racing Pontiac. Meihuizen: 'The car was a far too short time in second gear and I had wheelspin in third gear until the finish line. And with only three runs on it, we are far from having the perfect set-up for the engine. By fine-tuning we can improve so many things. A low 5.8 seconds is really possible and can happen at the next race in Tierp. We go for it! This is a real team effort and a reward for many years of hard work. The crew worked all night long to give me a perfect car. This engine combination is absolutely great and the team did an excellent job in fine-tuning the chassis. The car goes arrow straight. All honours go to my fantastic crew.'
Meihuizen won the first round of eliminations in a steady 6.30 seconds and had to face his MPM-colleague David Vegter in the quarter final of eliminations. But what a shock as the marshals found liquid under the car and Meihuizen had to switch of his engine after the burn out. That made an early end to Meihuizen's raceday and also meant he could not go for a good race result after his shining performance in qualifying. Of course the MPM-driver was very disappointed, but first of all wanted to look at the good things of the weekend. All Pro Mod competitors now know Meihuizen and his J.W.R. Racing Pontiac is the fastest combination in Europe and with his 5.9 seconds run could even be one of the frontrunners in the American Pro Mod competition. It does not take long before the MPM-driver can have his revenge as from June 14 up to 16 the second round of the FIA European Championship is on the calendar with the Sweden Internationals at Tierp Arena.
- Autor
- Remco Scheelings
- Fotógrafo
- Remco Scheelings
Dragracing Main event Marc Meihuizen MPM Racing MPM Sports Pro mod Santa Pod
