Lillestrøm Norway

Thomas Nataas is a second generation drag racer from Norway. Now 36, Thomas grew up around the sport with his father racing, then at the age of 18 he began his own racing career. His first race was a street legal 1971 Ford Mustang which, 18 years ago, was the first 9 second street car in Norway and which Thomas drove to school every day. He later moved on to race in both Super-Gas and Super-Comp with another Mustang, this time a `66 model.

Thomas then raced one of the first Pro-Mod cars in Europe, a 700 cubic inch, nitrous motored Mercury Cougar that had originally been built for Pro-Stock racing and became one of the founders of the Pro-Mod class in Europe. This was Thomas`s first car to be known as “Batmobile” and the first to carry the famous bat logo.

The car was christened by Thomas`s friends, whose first comment when they saw the outrageous body styling and aerodynamics was, “it looks just like the Batmobile” and the name stuck. Each of Thomas`s race cars since has carried the distinctive bat logo, the next being his infamous Pro-Mod `37 Chevy Business Coupe powered by a blown alcohol burning 500 cu in Chevy motor, which was the quickest Pro-Mod car in Norway running as quick as 6.42 seconds in the quarter mile.

In 2004 Thomas made the step up to Top Fuel working with Rune Fjeld Motorsport, and driving his current Top Fuel “Batmobile”. He has driven this Top Fuel Dragster to a personal best of 4.82 seconds and 311mph/497kph. Thomas finished 5th in the FIA European Top Fuel Championship in both 2004 and 2005.

Thomas won the races both at Alastoro, Finland and at Hockenheim in 2006.

FIA European Top Fuel Championship runner up 2006.

Dragracer of the year 2006.

Hønefoss Norway

Siw Nystad made her debut in drag racing only 18 years old in 2003. She took her license in a BMW estate, and in the same race she tried a Mustang Super Gas.

She made 3 runs in one of RF Motorsport's Top Fuel Dragsters in 2005 at Gardermoen Raceway in Norway

Siw took her license and entered her first race in Top Fuel at Exporama Drag Challenge 2006, where she beat Micke Kågered first round with a 4.96 at 496 km/h

Rookie of the year 2006.

Finland

Janne Ahonen has often been considered as a very tight-lipped man, who is rarely seen smiling. His friends and many others, who have had the possibility to meet him in person, do know that he can smile and not only that, he can laugh – but only when the time is right.

Janne has developed a kind of safety-barrier around him, often called for the Janne-look. It is still very much around him, both at winning occasions and at not so successful moments. In years gone by – the “look” has developed to a label and image around him. But at moments it has also bothered him quite a lot.

One thing is for certain, one will never ever hear Janne publicly criticizing or giving false explanations, if something has gone wrong. It’s always the athletes fault; there’s is nothing wrong with equipment or location. More than once, his trainers have afterwards told about murdering wind-conditions, serious illness or about a bad flu. The wind-conditions have robbed Janne not only once, but several times, the chance of winning championship medals. But in Janne’s mind, bad weather conditions are part of the big game.

Janne’s long carrier in Finnish and World-level ski-jumping is simply outstanding – there’s no doubt about that. But even the very best athletes do need the assistance of a top-level trainer. Luckily he has had one for several years. In his new challenges in drag racing, there is a whole team of trainers and coaches around him – consisting of the very experienced Team Eagle Racing.

Drag Racing can in many ways be compared to ski-jumping. Months and months of training are to be followed by endless hours of concentration. Only to be followed by a performance which can be measured in a few seconds. Afterwards one just makes a quick look at the score-board and then one will have to do things once again.

This is one of Janne’s specialties – he’s the best. His only goal is to win championships.

Janne took his Top Fuel license in RF Motorsport's third car at Alastaro in July 2006

He will race for the European Championship in 2007.