Race day of the 2024 NitrOlympX took place under sunny skies and, crucially, in mid-20s C rather than the previous performance-sapping 30+. The improved conditions contributed to two new track records and many Personal Bests.
The first new track record was in FIA Pro Modified where The Netherlands’ David Vegter, Championship leader going in to the event, recorded a new Personal Best of 5.792/394.66 in the first round of eliminations, the elapsed time being the new record. Pro Modified was won by Estonia’s Andres Arnover who defeated Switzerland’s Bruno Bader with a 5.957/383.98 to Bruno’s early shut-off 7.439/214.30. Another highlight of Pro Modified was the presence of French racer Jean Dulamon who suffered a high-speed crash on day two of the event. Jean was quickly released from hospital after being checked over and was given a tumultuous reception by the fans during the first round of eliminations.
The second new track record was set in FIM Europe Top Fuel Bike by Sweden’s Rikard Gustafsson, one of the quickest and fastest TFB racers anywhere on the planet. Rikard recorded 5.817/405.64 (250+ mph) in defeating the UK’s Stuart Crane in the first round of eliminations and made it to the final where his bike rolled through the start line triggering a disqualification. The UK’s Mark Smith took the Top Fuel Bike event title. In the domestic combined Funny Bike and Super Twin Gas class, Germany’s Markus Laur made history as the first German Funny Bike racer to record a six-second pass with a 6.967/332.86 which means that he is now eligible to compete in FIM Europe Top Fuel Bike.
Switzerland’s Jndia Erbacher, a darling of the Hockenheim crowd, won FIA Top Fuel Dragster with a solo run. Jndia won her semi-final race against Championship leader Duncan Micallef with a 4.000/500.25 (310+ mph) but in the other semi final Sweden’s Dennis Nilsson, on a solo pass, did not make it to the start line and so was not eligible to go forward to the final round. Jndia took the 4.084/476.65 bye for the event win with Dennis’ team lined up in the start area in their team uniforms to cheer her on.
Sweden’s Jonny Lagg was the event winner in FIA Top Methanol. The final was contested by two injected-nitro dragsters with fellow Swede Tony Bryntesson Jonny’s opponent. Tony’s motor dropped cylinders, reducing its power, and Jonny took an easy win with an elapsed time three tenths quicker than Tony’s. FIA Pro Stock again proved to be a Jimmy Ålund benefit as the multiple European Champion saw off a strong, and improving round-by-round, challenge from fellow Swede Robin Norén.
Denmark’s Marcus Christiansen took another event in in FIM Europe Supertwin, this time with a 6.321/359.28 over Belgium’s Chris van Nimmen who would have been happy enough with a number of personal bests culminating in a 6.656/316.61 although his motor lost power in the final. Also notable in Supertwin was a new personal best of 6.211/326.61 by Sweden’s longtime Supertwin racer Per Bengtsson in the first round of eliminations, however Per’s bike lost traction in the semi-final handing the win to Belgium’s Chris van Nimmen and robbing Per of a chance to take on the all-conquering Dane on something like his own terms.
FIM Europe Super Street Bike was won by top qualifier, the UK’s Jake Mechaell, with a 6.894/332.10 over Hungary’s Kristian Jasz. A notable new personal best during the day’s eliminations was the 6.856/336.26 (208+ mph) by The Netherlands’ Margot Schmidt. FIM Pro Stock Bike was also won by the top qualifier, Jörg Lymant, with a 7.182/296.19 defeat of Greece’s Dimitros Petridis; Jorg’s elapsed time in the final was identical to his top qualifying time.
The final of FIM Europe Junior Bike was an all-UK affair with Richard Willcox beating Hollie King after Hollie went quicker than her dial-in time.
The final rounds of both the FIA and FIM European Championships take place at Santa Pod Raceway in England in September.
NitrOlympX 2024 full final results:
FIA Top Fuel Dragster: Jndia Erbacher 4.084/476.65 bye
FIA Top Methanol: Jonny Lagg 5.386/433.74 def. Tony Bryntesson 5.627/414.06
FIA Pro Modified: Andres Arnover 5.957/383.98 def. Bruno Bader 7.439/214.30
FIA Pro Stock: Jimmy Alund 6.582/339.47 def. Robin Noren 6.699/333.32
FIM Top Fuel Bike: Mark Smith 11.959/113.53 def. Rikard Gustafsson no time
FIM Supertwin: Marcus Christiansen 6.321/359.28 def. Chris van Nimmen 15.430/78.79
FIM Europe Super Street Bike: Jake Mechaell 6.894/332.10 def. Kristian Jasz 6.902/329.58
FIM Europe Pro Stock Bike: Jorg Lymant 7.182/296.19 def. Dimitros Petridis 7.439/256.44
FIM Europe Junior Drag Bike: Richard Willcox (9.70) 9.854/102.11 def. Hollie King (8.36) 8.327/131.84 breakout
Super Pro ET: Robert Gassner (8.42) 8.417/258.55 lesser breakout def. Franz Aschenbrenner (8.15) 8.132/248.44 breakout
Pro ET: Andreas Glanzmann (10.95) 11.565/159.32 def. Karl Geiger (9.07) no time DQ
Super Comp: Gerd Habermann 8.954/197.90 def. Oliver Krautberger 9.141/248.78
Super Gas: Oscar Scappocin 9.935/206.87 def. Philipp Daud 9.872/221.87 breakout
Pro Comp Doorslammer: Thomas Ranft 7.492/296.19 def. Markus Welte 7.303/301.91
Junior Dragster: Luke Mugridge (8.00) 7.955/130.73 def. Sam Timmers (9.15) 9.159/116.36 DQ red light
Funny Bike/Super Twin Gas: Markus Laur 6.967/332.86 def. Maarten Zijlstra 11.354/116.96
Super Comp Bike: Carl Thomas 8.530/267.72 def. Travis Merite 8.385/244.71 breakout
ET Bike: Lorens Bochnig (9.04) 9.169/239.69 def. Stefan Graff (9.75) 9.839/217.56 DQ red light
DMV Junior Drag Bike: Hugo Leistner (8.58) 8.614/117.62 def. Leif-Erik Braune (7.90) 8.016/139.80
