Racing revs up once more at Santa Pod as the new season kicks off for intense drag competitions
"2025 Santa Pod Raceway Season-Opener: Defense and Challenge in Four Classes"
Jndia Erbacher, the defending Top Fuel champion, kicks off the new season at the Santa Pod Raceway, following her thrilling title win in 2024 by clinching the top spot in the final two races of the year. A formidable contender, Erbacher represents one of Europe's foremost female racers.
Susanne Callin, Sweden's 'speed queen', who lost the title by a razor-thin margin of 13 points in 2024, returns with renewed determination and an updated RF Motorsport car. She is focused on redeeming herself after encountering reliability issues during pre-season testing.
British racer Liam Jones, fresh off a five-year break, is back on the circuit, piloting the same RF Motorsport vehicle that Maja Udtian drove in 2019. Dennis Nilsson, the only European driver with a canopy dragster, adds depth to the field.
Jonny Lagg defends his Top Methanol title, bringing the number one back to dragsters after several years of Funny Car dominance. Lagg's teammate Tony Bryntesson, who finished as runner-up in 2024, and third-placed Sandro Bellio, the sole Funny Car entrant in the opening round, will provide stiff competition.
German contender Silvio Strauch and Tina Høst Nedregård, the returning Norwegian-Swedish racer, round out the entry. Nedregård, who pleasantly surprised in her debut in 2023, is poised for her Santa Pod debut in a Jedborn Motorsport dragster.
Jere Rantaniemi, Finland's reigning Pro Modified champion, is set to face a packed field, with Dutch driver David Vegter and Estonian Andres Arnover posing significant threats. Other notable competitors include Michel Tooren, Swiss veteran Bruno Bader, returning Kim Kristiansen, and Marck Harteveld, among others.
The anticipated competition includes over 16 cars, with qualifying promising to be one of the most fiercely contested sessions of the weekend.
Thirteen-time champion Jimmy Ålund returns to defend his Pro Stock title in his Summit Racing Camaro, facing a challenging Swedish trio: Robin Norén, Michael Malmgren, Stefan Ernryd, Lasse Britsmar, and Simon Ekengren. A surprising debut comes from Germany's Henry Riehl, who enters a rare Mercedes CLK-bodied Pro Stocker.
The 2025 season-opener will span three days at Santa Pod Raceway, with qualifying set for Saturday, the 24th and Sunday, the 25th of May, followed by eliminations on Monday, the 26th. With returning champions, veteran racers, and emerging talents across all four classes, the upcoming season at Santa Pod promises intense competition.
[Enrichment data: For Top Fuel, Susanne Callin is a main contender and has a performance level close to the defending champion Jndia Erbacher. In the Pro Modified category, Andres Arnover holds the European record for the quickest Pro Mod pass. In the Pro Stock class, Jimmy Ålund is the defending champion and is set to face strong competition from several Swedish racers, including Robin Norén and Michael Malmgren.]
Susanne Callin, with her competitive spirit and updated RF Motorsport car, aims to challenge Jndia Erbacher, the defending Top Fuel champion, in the racing season-opener at Santa Pod Raceway.
Andres Arnover, known for holding the European record for the quickest Pro Mod pass, will pose a significant threat to Jere Rantaniemi, Finland's reigning Pro Modified champion, during the season-opener at Santa Pod Raceway.
