Motorsport: Strong European debut of Jndia Erbacher
Around 40,000 spectators watched the NitrOlympX in Hockenheim. At the biggest drag racing event in Europe, two fast women showed impressive performances in the circle of many men. For the first time, father and daughter Erbacher were at the start in Hockenheim, but not in the same class. While the six-time European champion Urs Erbacher in the qualification on Friday [...]
While six-time European champion Urs Erbacher finished third out of only five competitors in Friday's qualifying in the 8000 hp Top Fuel dragsters, Jndia Erbacher initially had to settle for fifth and last place in the Top Methanol dragsters, which were half as powerful. Because it rained for a long time on Saturday, the action didn't continue until Sunday with the quarterfinals. In her first race in front of a big audience in Europe and the traveling team of the Swiss TV (feature in "10 vor 10" this week) Jndia Erbacher could not hide her nervousness, but managed to clearly beat her opponent Jonny Lagg from Sweden. In the semifinals, she could have benefited from a walk-through. However, her engine died after the burnout due to a technical defect, so that her dream of a direct entry into the final was shattered.
Bruno Bader remains on course for medals
"She did a great job. Without technical problems, more would have been possible," praised her dad Urs Erbacher. He himself was initially tied with Anita Mäkela in his first elimination run in the top class, but lost the duel due to spinning wheels. With two runs under four seconds over a distance of 1000 feet, the Finn made it to the final, where she beat last year's winner Mikael Kagered to take the lead in the European Championship. Urs and Jndia Erbacher will also compete in the European Championship final in the British drag racing mecca of Santa Pod on the second weekend in September.
In the FIA Pro Modifieds, Bruno Bader and Thomas Stiefel, two of the four Swiss drivers among 14 competitors, made it through the first elimination round in their 3000 hp touring cars. Stiefel was then defeated in the quarter-finals and Bader only in the semi-finals by the later victorious Swede Johan Lindberg. Bruno Bader is thus still on course for a medal in the European Championship.
www.nitrolympx.de
Photos: Jürg Streun
