Andy News – Carter Motorsport

The FIA European Drag Racing Championship began its 30th season of competition In May 2025 at its tradionional opening race, the Main Event at Santa Pod Raceway. Across the FIA Classes were 6 Brits hoping to make a strong start and try to join a small club of British FIA European Champions!

The FIA European Championships began in 1996 (with Pro Mod joining in 2006 after previously running in the NDRS series) and it did not take long for there to be British success with Barry Sheavills becoming the first Brit to Win an FIA European Championship, in 1998 in Top Fuel – and also the first to run a 4 second pass in the UK in TF.

2001 saw Double success for the Brits with Andy Carter Winning the first of his Four FIA European Championships in Top Fuel and Rob Turner Winning the Championship in Top Methanol Dragster for the first time.

In 2003 there was double success once again as in Top Fuel Smax Smith Won the Championship in a Winner takes all Final against Sweden’s Mikael Kågered.

Dave Wilson became the second Brit to Win an FIA Championship in Top Methanol Dragster and went on to win 5 successive championships (2003-07) in a highly competitive class and with repeated battles with the likes of Germany’s Peter Shofer

In 2004 Andy Carter Won his second Championship, in the most competitive season in Top Fuel to date, on the last run of the year and by only 2 points, and resetting the European Record along the way to 4.832 @ 306mph

2008 and 2009 Carter Won 2 more Championships, in 2008 by a single point and in 2009 dominated the class and to this date is the most recent Brit to Win an FIA European Championship.

So to sum up, history has proved it’s not easy to Win an FIA European Championship, with just 5 British Drivers having achieved this.

Between 1998 and 2009 they Won 12 FIA European Championships.

British FIA Drag Racing Champions: