Round 2: Santa Pod, 22-25 May

Britain's Andy Robinson swept aside the cream of Europe's Pro Modified racers to score the greatest victory of his long career at Santa Pod Raceway's FIA Main Event. The Hampshire ace twice set the European record for elapsed time during an epic contest which featured a slew of career-best times and speeds and a spectacular crash from which Dutch driver Robert Joosten escaped mercifully unscathed.

With beautiful weather gracing an event rained off the last two years, Robinson looked increasingly invincible as the race progressed. Early favourite Patrik Wikström produced a track-record 235.92mph win in Monday's first eliminations round but tyre-shake scuttled his next match. Swiss journeyman racer Bruno Bader was the meet's surprise package, lopping chunks off his previous bests to reach the semi-final.

Not only quick, Robinson was magisterially consistent in his four eliminations matches. His best ET, 6.100sec., was the quickest ever achieved in Europe and his worst was just .017 slower. In addition, he twice improved his British speed record by fractional margins.

Eliminations:

Round 2:

Bruno Bader (CH) 6.199sec. / 226.48mph  def.  Rolf Ammann (CH) 6.510 / 200.61

Andy Robinson (GB) 6.100 / 229.92  def.  Roger Johansson (S) 6.297 / 223.58

Urban Johansson (S) 6.168 / 233.53  def.  Patrik Wikström 6.957 / 154.11

Mikael Lindahl (S) 9.470 / 95.65  def.  Michael Gullquist (S) left before lights

Semi-final:

Andy Robinson 6.110 / 229.96  def.  Mikael Lindahl 6.201 / 230.42

Urban Johansson 6.205 / 228.76  def.  Bruno Bader 6.188 / 225.75