Andy Carter – Full Record

1994 – 2011: FIA European Top Fuel Dragster Record

FIA Finals – 14

  • 2001 FIA Nitro Nationals, Alastaro, Finland – Win Over Barry Sheavills
  • 2001 FIA European Finals, Santa Pod, England – Win over Anita Mäkelä
  • 2002 FIA Main Event, Santa Pod, England – Loss to Kim Reymond
  • 2003 FIA Veidec Nitro Festival, Mantorp Park, Sweden – Rain off against Kim Reymond
  • 2004 FIA Main Event, Santa Pod, England – Loss to Tommy Möller
  • 2004 FIA Nitro Nationals, Alastaro, Finland – Win over Jöran Persåker
  • 2004 FIA European Finals, Santa Pod, England – Win over Thomas Nataas
  • 2005 FIA FHRA Nitro Nationals, Alastaro, Finland – Win over Thomas Nataas
  • 2008 FIA Veidec Festival, Mantorp Park, Sweden – Win Over Urs Erbacher
  • 2008 FIA European Finals, Santa Pod, England – Rain off against Lex Joon
  • 2009 FIA Main Event, Santa Pod, England – Win over Stig Neergaard
  • 2009 FIA Nitro Nationals, Alastaro, Finland – Win over Stig Neergaard
  • 2009 FIA Veidec Festival, Mantorp Park, Sweden – Rain off against Risto Poutiainen
  • 2009 FIA Nitrolympx, Hockenheim, Germany – Win over Risto Poutiainen

FIA Event High MPH – 22

  • 2001 FIA Main Event, Santa Pod, England – Speed 286.20mph
  • 2001 Gardermoen, Norway – Speed 285.57mph
  • 2003 FIA FHRA, Alastaro, Finland – Speed 287.17mph
  • 2004 FIA Main Event, Santa Pod, England – Speed 306.36mph
  • 2004 FIA Nitro Nationals, Alastaro, Finland – Speed 289.57mph
  • 2004 FIA Veidec Nitro Festival, Mantorp, Sweden – Speed 308.82mph
  • 2004 FIA Nitrolympx, Hockenheim, Germany – Speed 297.10mph
  • 2004 FIA European Finals, Santa pod, England – Speed 296.13mph
  • 2005 FIA FHRA, Alastaro, Finland – Speed 291.36mph
  • 2005 FIA Veidec Festival, Mantorp Park, Sweden – Speed 300.82mph
  • 2007 FIA Main Event, Santa Pod, England – Speed 314.43mph
  • 2007 FIA Veidec Festival, Mantorp Park, Sweden – Speed 314.53mph (Track Record)
  • 2008 FIA FHRA Nitro Nationals, Alastaro, Finland – Speed 309.38mph
  • 2008 FIA Veidec Festival, Mantorp Park, Sweden – Speed (1000ft) 294.11mph
  • 2008 FIA Nitrolympx, Hockenheim, Germany – Speed 314.91mph
  • 2008 FIA European Finals, Santa Pod, England – Speed 317.86mph
  • 2009 FIA FHRA Nitro Nationals, Alastaro, Finland – Speed 295mph
  • 2009 FIA Veidec Festival, Mantorp Park, Sweden – Speed (1000ft) 286.28mph
  • 2009 FIA Nitrolympx, Hockenheim, Germany – Speed 296.38mph
  • 2009 FIA European Finals, Santa Pod, England – Speed 310.61
  • 2010 FIA Veidec Festival, Mantorp Park, Sweden – Speed (1000ft) 281.16mph
  • 2010 FIA European Finals, Santa Pod, England – 320.19mph

FIA Number 1 Qualifiers –  17

  • 2001 FIA FHRA Nitro Nationals, Alastaro, Finland – 5.212
  • 2001 Gardermoen, Norway – 5.180
  • 2002 FIA Main Event, Santa Pod, England – 4.897
  • 2003 FIA Main Event, Santa Pod, England – 4.884
  • 2004 FIA Main Event, Santa pod, England – 4.877
  • 2004 FIA Veidec Nitro Festival, Mantorp Park, Sweden – 4.760
  • 2004 FIA European Finals, Santa Pod, England – 4.983
  • 2005 FIA FHRA, Alastaro, Finland – 5.070
  • 2007 FIA Veidec Festival, Mantorp Park – 4.732
  • 2007 FIA European Finals, Santa Pod, England – 4.645
  • 2008 FIA Main Event, Santa Pod, England – 4.8152
  • 2008 FIA FHRA Nitro Nationals, Alastaro, Finland – 4.767
  • 2008 FIA Veidec Festival, Mantorp Park, Sweden – 4.0591 (1000ft) – Track record
  • 2008 FIA European Finals, Santa Pod, England – 4.9089
  • 2009 FIA FHRA Nitro Nationals, Alastaro, Finland – 4.1270 – Track Record
  • 2009 FIA European Finals, Santa Pod, England – 4.7816
  • 2010 FIA European Finals, Santa Pod, England – 4.5728

FIA Event Low Elapsed Times – 19

  • 2001 FIA FHRA Nitro Nationals, Alastaro, Finland – 5.212
  • 2001 FIA Gardemoen, Norway – 5.151
  • 2002 FIA Main Event, Santa Pod, England – 4.897
  • 2003 FIA Main Event, Santa Pod, England – 4.884
  • 2004 FIA Main Event, Santa Pod, England – 4.832
  • 2004 FIA FHRA Nitro Nationals, Alastaro, Finland – 4.979
  • 2004 FIA Veidec Nitro Festival, Mantorp Park, Sweden – 4.760
  • 2004 FIA European Finals, Santa Pod, England – 4.983
  • 2005 FIA Veidec Festival, Mantorp Park, Sweden – 5.070
  • 2007 FIA European Finals, Santa Pod, England – 4.6450
  • 2007 FIA Veidec Festival, Mantorp Park, Sweden – 4.7322
  • 2008 FIA Main Event, Santa Pod, England – 4.8152
  • 2008 FIA FHRA Nitro Nationals, Alastaro, Finland – 4.7670
  • 2008 FIA Veidec Festival, Mantorp Park, Sweden – 4.0492 (990ft)
  • 2008 FIA European Finals, Santa Pod, England – 4.7475
  • 2009 FIA Main Event, Santa Pod, England – 4.8026
  • 2009 FIA FHRA Nitro Nationals, Alastaro, Finland – 4.122 (1000ft)
  • 2009 FIA European Finals, Santa Pod, England – 4.7816
  • 2010 FIA European Finals, Santa Pod, England – 4.5728

FIA Elapsed Time 1320ft Records – 5

  • 2002 FIA, Main Event, Santa Pod, England – 4.897 with a backup of 4.922
  • 2004 FIA Main Event, Santa Pod, England – 4.832 with a backup of 4.877
  • 2007 FIA Veidec Festival, Mantorp Park, Sweden – 4.732 with a backup of 4.737
  • 2007 FIA European Finals, Santa Pod, England – 4.703 with a backup 4.645
  • 2010 FIA European Finals, Santa Pod, England – 4.572 with a backup of 4.613 (Stands to this day 1/4 Mile)

FIA Elapsed Time 1000ft Records – 1

  • 2008 FIA Veidec Festival, Mantorp Park, Sweden – 4.049 with a backup of 4.059

FIA Speed Records – 1

  • 2004 FIA Main Event, Santa Pod, England – 306.36 mph (493.04kph) with a backup 306.33mph (492.99kph)

FIA Fastest Speed Side-by-Side

  • 2000 FIA Main Event, Santa Pod, England – Sheavills 285.72mph v Carter 286.20mph
  • 2002 FIA Main Event, Santa Pod, England – Sheavills 304.71mph v Carter 303.07mph

FIA Quickest Elapsed Time Side-by-Side

  • 2002 FIA Main Event, Santa Pod, England – Sheavills 4.970 v Carter 4.897
  • 2004 FIA Main Event, Santa Pod, England – Carter 4.888 v Smith 4.963
  • 2005 FIA Veidec Festival, Mantorp Park, Sweden – Carter 4.953 v Joon 4.788

Outright Track Records, Elapsed Time or Speed

  • 2000 Super Series 4, Shakespeare County Raceway, England – 5.222
  • 2000 Super Series 4, Shakespeare County Raceway, England – 274.39mph
  • 2001 FIA Event, Gardermoen, Norway – Speed 285.57mph
  • 2001 FIA Event, Gardermoen, Norway – 5.180
  • 2002 Super Series Fall Nationals, Shakespeare County Raceway, England – 5.191
  • 2002 Super Series Fall Nationals, Shakespeare County Raceway, England – 288.46mph
  • 2002 FIA Main Event, Santa Pod, England – 4.897
  • 2003 FIA Main Event, Santa Pod, England – 4.88
  • 2004 FIA Veidec Nitro Festival, Mantorp Park, Sweden – 4.760
  • 2007 FIA Veidec Festival, Mantorp Park, Sweden – 4.732
  • 2007 FIA Veidec Festival, Mantorp Park, Sweden – 314.53mph
  • 2007 FIA European Finals, Santa Pod, England – 4.645 (Equal with Kim Raymond)
  • 2008 FIA FHRA Nitro Nationals, Alastaro, Finland – 4.767
  • 2008 FIA Veidec Festival, Mantorp Park, Sweden – 293.83mph (1000ft)
  • 2008 FIA Veidec Festival, Mantorp Park, Sweden – 4.049 ET (1000ft)
  • 2008 FIA Nitrolympx, Hockenheim, Germany – 314.91mph / 506.79kph
  • 2009 FIA FHRA Nitro Nationals, Alastaro, Finland – 4122 (1000ft)
  • 2009 FIA FHRA Nitro Nationals, Alastaro, Finland – 295.15 or 475kph (1000ft)
  • 2010 FIA European Finals, Santa Pod, England – 4.6139
  • 2010 FIA European Finals, Santa Pod, England – 4.5728
  • 2010 FIA European Finals, Santa Pod, England – 320.19mph

Other Records of Note

  • 2002 FIA Main Event, Santa Pod, England – 2nd European driver over 300mph
  • 2002 FIA Main Event, Santa Pod, England – First side-by-side 4 second runs in European Drag Racing
  • 2002 FIA Main Event, Santa Pod, England – First side by side over 300mph runs in European Drag Racing
  • 2004 Most low elapsed times in an FIA Top Fuel Championship season with 4 low ets
  • 2005 Flame & Thunder, Santa Pod, England – First 4 and fastest speed at this event 4.89 ET / 302mph
  • 2005 Carter was voted No 9 in the top 10 ‘Heroes of Motorsport’ by respected weekly paper, Motorsport News
  • 2007 FIA Main Event, Santa Pod, England – 3rd European driver over 500kph (506kph)
  • 2008 Mantorp Park, Sweden – No 1 qualifier at the biggest FIA Top Fuel field of all time
  • 2008 FIA Nitrolympx, Hockenheim, Germany – 1st driver over 500kph (310mph) in Germany
  • 2009 Most round wins in an FIA Top Fuel Championship season, with 12
  • 2010 Santa Pod, England – 1st and only European Driver to run in the 4.50’s at 320mph over the quarter-mile.
  • Scored maximum (103) points on 4 occasions (current record)
  • *46 rounds wins during his 1994 – 2011 Top Fuel Dragster career
  • *Led the all-time FIA European Top Fuel Points standings from 8th September 2007 until 5th July 2014
  • *Appeared in 5 FIA Top Fuel Championship Finals in a row, starting with the 2008 FIA European Finals, Santa Pod, England until the 2009 FIA Nitrolympx, Hockenheim, Germany.

Non FIA Records

  • 2000 Super Series 4, Shakespeare County Raceway, England – Track elapsed time record 5.222
  • 2000 Super Series 4, Shakespeare County Raceway, England – Track speed record 274.39mph
  • 2002 Super Series Fall Nationals, Shakespeare County Raceway, England – Track elapsed time record 5.191
  • 2002 Super Series Fall Nationals, Shakespeare County Raceway, England – Track speed record 288.46mph

Santa Pod, Easter Thunderball, Pro Fuel Shootout – 2 Wins / 2 Runner up

  • 2001 Carter lost 12.086 to John Spuffard’s winning 8.124
  • 2002 Carter won 5.460 at 236.71mph to John Spuffard’s losing 10.873 at 80.41mph
  • 2004 Carter won 5.049 at 290.75mph (holeshot win) over Lex Joon’s losing 5.046 at 280.95mph
  • 2005 Carter lost 5.047 at 274.62mph to Thomas Nataas’s winning 5.054 at 283.14 mph

Match Races

  • 2000 Super Series 4, Shakespeare County Raceway, England – Won 3-0 against Barry Sheavills
  • 2002 Super Series Fall Nationals, Shakespeare County Raceway, England – Won 3-0 against Susanne Callin
  • 2005 Shakespeare Nationals, Shakespeare County Raceway, England – Won 2-0 against Darryl Bradford
  • 2007 United Arab Emirates, Dubai – Won 2-0 against Harlan Thompson

Notes

  • All records correct at the time of Carter’s retirement in 2011. As of July 2025, Andy Carter has not been inducted into the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame.

Previous Racing History

History – 1978 – 1982: Hot Rods

Carter started in Hot Rods at 17 years of age at Bovingdon Raceway in a self-built 1380cc Mini. He quickly progressed to a 1498cc A-Series engine, building his engines with advice from fellow oval racer Ken Knight. He did well for his age at Bovingdon, moving up to the highest grade which carried a Red Roof. After one season at Bovingdon, Carter applied for his Spedeworth License in Hot Rods and took his test at Spedeworths then Head Office; Aldershot Raceway in Oxenden Road, Tongham. Carter competed in Spedeworth (now National Hot Rods) Hot Rods under the number 243 with limited success from 1979 until 1982, again in Minis this time with a 1598cc engine and then moved to Mk2 Escorts in late 1980 with the purchase of June (Hot Rod 310) Tomlinson’s Car.

1982 – 1994: Sportsman Drag Racing
(Street, Super Gas, Outlaw Anglia)

After leaving Hot Rod racing Carter quickly started attending Run What Ya Brung events at Santa Pod Raceway, starting out with a full race lightweight 1598cc Mini, then a Mk2 Lotus Cortina, followed by a 1973, 351cu in Mustang before building a 1954 Ford Popular with a 400cu in Pontiac engine in it. The street racing scene in the 1980s was massive, events were packed and the ‘racing’ was highly competitive. Carter excelled in this environment and his experience of racing on shale and loose tracks in Hot Rods definitely helped him in Drag Racing.

1984

Carter is runner-up to close friend Dennis Boyle in a Street Machine Magazine shoot out day at Santa Pod Raceway. Carter ran in the 12’s all day on street tyres and with a full exhaust system.

1985

Carter won the Street Racer Championship at York Dragway in June, in a race that sent ripples through the Sportsman Drag Racing world. Carter went straight into stage against hot favourite Nick Mann and caused Mann to get a red light putting him out in round 1.

1986

Carter won Gary’s Picnic, Saturday night eliminations against tough opposition from all over Europe that included famed street racers Brian Pateman and Tony Gransden amongst others. Carter who ran in the 11s during Saturday’s practice then ran well into the 10s when he started using the ‘Gas’ during eliminations. After this event, Carter was told by Santa Pod officials and that he must put a roll cage in his Ford Popular, and wear correct clothing while competing. By winning Gary’s Picnic, Carter won £500 prize money and a place in a four-man team, chosen to compete at Mantorp Park Raceway in Sweden.

1987

Carter built the first all-tube-framed streetcar in the sport, commissioning Reg Chatwin of RHC Chassis to build the frame and then putting the car together himself.

1988

After missing the first two rounds of the championship, Carter finished Runner-up in the Custom Car Magazine / Wynns, Street Car Championship.

1989

Carter won the Custom Car Magazine / Wynns, Street Car Championship convincingly, winning 6 of the 9 rounds. Carter was often accused of cheating (It was perceived that he was using Nitrous Oxide) during this season and the car was stopped and thoroughly checked just before going through the burnout water twice.

1990

Carter moved to Super Gas but struggled due to handling issues with the car and this ended with a 130mph crash when making a demo run at the Bug Jam – Santa Pod Raceway.

1991

Super Gas and Outlaw Anglia competition.

1992

Outlaw Anglia and Run What Ya Brung events.

In November, Carter commissioned Hauser Race Cars to build the tube chassis for the new car that was to run a 500cu in Blown Alky Hemi Engine, with a Lenco gearbox.

1993

Debuted new 500cu in Blown Alky Hemi Outlaw Anglia at the Flame & Thunder meeting, Santa Pod Raceway.

1994

In September at the Santa Pod World Finals, Carter ran an incredible 7.57 at 181mph in his Outlaw Anglia, now running a 50% Nitro mix.

Won the Outlaw Anglia Championship, winning 6 of the 9 rounds.

Voted Sportsman Racer of the Year.

Started licensing in Top Fuel Dragster in the November at the Santa Pod, Flame & Thunder meeting.

Personal life

Carter was born in London and grew up with two brothers, Martin and Stephen. His Mum is from the Faroe Islands and his Dad is from London, England. He at first lived with his Grandparents, Albert and Peggy Carter in Stonebridge NW10 but then moved with his Mum and Dad to Penge SE20. From there to Kingsbury NW9 and from there to Wealdstone in Middlesex where he spent his years growing up.

His first love is Football and from a very young age was a keen and talented footballer playing for his schools, the Cub Scouts, as well as local teams Belmont United FC and Tansley FC. He made one appearance for Harrow Schools (a team picked with players from each school in the borough of Harrow). He is a lifelong Tottenham Hotspur fan, attending his first match at White Hart Lane when just Six years old and from then on attending games throughout the 1960’s, 1970’s, 1980’s 1990’s and 2000s. Games of note attended include the 1971 and 1973 League Cup Finals, the 1984 UEFA Cup Final and the 1981, 1982, 1987 and 1991 FA Cup Finals.

Other interests include aviation as Carter holds English CAA and American Pilots FAA Pilots Licenses.

He has been married twice, his first marriage was to Victoria Gay in 1989 at Wealdstone Civic Centre and this ended in divorce in 1991.

He married Sarah Gibbs in 1999 at St Petersburg Beach, Florida. In 2003 they had a son – Albert Carter. As of 2020, they are happily married and their son Albert attends Military Prep School in Aldershot.

Carter’s son, Albert Carter has been involved in motorsport since he was 4 years old. He started in Karts and competed at the top level until the age of 12. He then moved into Oval Racing until he was 15. In March 2019, Albert took his NHRA Super Comp Licence at Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School in Gainesville Florida and his last 3 runs resulted in times and speeds in the 8.20s at over 160mph.

Licences gained / held:

  • FIA MSA (EU) Top Fuel Dragster licence
  • NHRA (USA) Top Fuel Dragster licence
  • English (CAA) and American (FAA) Pilots licences
  • Texas, USA Driving licence
  • Full Motorbike licence
  • Class 1 Truck licence.
  • PADI Open water diving licence