2019 FIA European Pro Mod Championship, Jimmy Ålund
Race #3, FHRA Nitro Nationals, Kauhava, Finland.
"a brand new track"
Norrköping, Sweden, July 11, 2019 - Third race of the FIA drag racing season, the venue was the brand new drag strip in Kauhava in Finland.
A virgin track can have its challenges. The FHRA track crew worked around the clock to present a good track to all racers. Friday, the first day of qualifying, produced some very solid numbers in both car and motorcycle classes.
Ålund drove Magnus Peterssons The Old 51 Chevrolet Business Coupe to the #2 qualifying spot with a strong run in Q2, 5.95 seconds at 380.82 km/h (236.63 mph). But qualifying wasn't all pretty, The Old 51 only made it once to the finish line under full power. Ålund, "we had issues with tire shake and hooking the car up but we got that one 5.9-second run in and it was enough for securing the second spot".
Sunday's eliminations. Ålund won round #1 with the quickest ET of the day, 5.99 @ 378.56 km/h (235.23 mph). The quarterfinals was won with a touch and go pedalfest at 6.79 seconds but that was it for the weekend. Ålund went up against Peter Kunc in the semis but the transmission in the Old 51 did not hold up with a loss as the result, Kunc went on to win the whole event. "A weekend with lots of work to figure out the new track surface. We'd like to thank the crew for all their hard work and of course congratulate Peter Kunc to his first Pro Mod win in FIA competition", says Ålund. "We went a few rounds on the Sunday which is very important for the championship battle". Indeed, Ålund took back two places in the points race and is now in 4th place in the 2019 FIA Pro Mod championship.
The next event for Jimmy Ålund is FIA Pro Mod at the NitrOlympX at the Hockenheimring, Hockenheim, Germany. The first round of qualifying starts on Friday morning, August 16. Ålund, "as always, we can't wait to get there and put more rounds in the car in front of the record crowd that is the trademark of the NitrOlympx".
Summit Racing Equipment is sponsoring both the Old 51 Pro Mod car and the Ålund Pro Stock Camaro this year. This is in addition to Funny Garage AB, Viking Industrimålning, Sverigedemokraterna, KB Racing, Camaroskroten, All American AB and Stigs Axle and Parts. Jimmy Ålund Racing is very grateful for the continuing support from such great companies.
/PiPPi