Litlington drag-racer Ian King made history this weekend as his team became the first ever to lead both the European Championships and USA Championships at the same time.
The Gulf Oil Dragracing – Grand Prix Originals Top Fuel team, with King in the driver’s seat, recorded a final qualifying time of 6.06 seconds and, with rain preventing any further racing, this proved enough to see them to the top of the standings at Santa Pod Raceway.
King hit the ground running with a first run of 6.26 seconds at 189.64 mph (3.997 secs at 194.2 mph at the 1/8th) to put the team into number one qualifying position, despite having to come off the throttle early due to wind.
The second and final qualifying run came in at 6.06 secs at 193.05 mph (3.874 secs at 197.09 mph in the 1/8th) again despite King clicking off well early around the 1000ft mark as the wind pushed him towards the centre-line.
This proved to be the last action of the weekend, as the rain failed to subside in time for any more racing.
Despite the team’s disappointment at not getting more race action, the achievement of leading both the premier Top Fuel Championships on either side of the Atlantic simultaneously is something to be savored.
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