Ein nächster Schritt um das Europäische Dragracing weiter zu professionalisieren wurde in Skandinavien getätigt. Die Speedgroup, ausrichter der FIA Dragster EM und unterstützer der UEM Dragbike EM hat nun  mit der NDRS Drag Racing Series (darunter auch die SDL Schwedische Dragracing League) die in Europa am weitesten entwickelten Sportsman Dragserie unter ihre Fittiche genommen.
Das sind über 450 Teams in 7 Auto und zwei Motorrad Klassen, die in 10 Rennen um Punkte für die NDRS uns SDL Wertung fahren. Man verspricht sich davon synergie Effekte, da sich die Speedgroup ja schon zwei Jahre um die EM kümmert und man so auch das Sportsman Racing weiter nach vorne bringen möchte. Die mneißten Punkte der zusammenarbeit sind bereits geklärt.

Unter dem Strich soll die Vermarktung, die Kommunikation nach außen verbessert werden, um das ganze Paket für sponsoren attraktiver zu gestalten. 2011 Läuft die NDRS Serie wie in den Jahren zuvor, 2012 werden dann ein paar neuerungen eingeführt.
Den original Pressetext, den uns die Speedgroup zur verfügung gestellt hat findet ihr nachfolgend.
Wir werden sehen was das für auswirkungen auf das Renngeschehen...

hat und ob auch das Zentraleuropäische Dragracing davon profitieren kann.
Wir wünschen den Verantwortlichen viel Erfolg.

SPEEDGROUP steps into Sportsman racing - acquires NDRS Drag Racing Series

Swedish Dragracing´s chairman Kjell Pettersson hands over NDRS to Speedgroup’s CEO Michael Gullqvist
photo: Stefan Boman

After two years as administrator of the FIA European Drag Racing Championship, Speedgroup has extended its operations to encompass Sportsman racing. Speedgroup has taken over responsibility for Europe’s biggest Sportsman programme, the NDRS Drag Racing Series. The Swedish series, SDL (Swedish Dragracing League), which is partly integrated with NDRS, will also fall under Speedgroup’s control.

Around 450 teams in seven car and two motorcycle classes competed in 2010’s NDRS Drag Racing Series. Kjell Pettersson, a founding member of the Swedish Dragracing Association and NDRS, initiated discussions about the takeover as the next logical step in developing the series. Pettersson foresaw synergy benefits in merging with Speedgroup, which is already involved in developing drag racing at European championship level. By February 2011 most elements of the merger had been completed and Speedgroup assumes responsibility for NDRS with immediate effect.

“Sportsman racing forms the foundation to all drag racing,” states Speedgroup’s CEO, Michael Gullqvist. “The NDRS Drag Racing Series is a powerful platform for the further growth of drag racing in Europe.”  Speedgroup’s chairman, Gunnar Janson, who led the negotiations, confirms that the  board of directors stands united behind the decision.

The NDRS Drag Racing Series 2011
“NDRS will be run as normal during 2011 while we integrate the NDRS systems with the way we manage the FIA and UEM championship classes,” explains Gullqvist.  “There’ll be some new features introduced, however. For instance, the Speedgroup Drivers & Riders Club for teams active in the NDRS Drag Racing Series will be launched next month. We’re also intensifying our efforts in the areas of communication and visibility. We’ll be communicating with teams, organisers, class associations and federations to obtain feedback and knowledge from the various different parties involved in the series. We’re preparing for further developments to take place in 2012.”



The founders of Svensk Dragracing and the NDRS Drag Racing Series wish to thank organisers, sponsors and teams for their co-operation over many years. They are also keen to express their gratitude to the various individuals who have been involved in building and running the series throughout this time.

There is a special word of appreciation for BILSPORT magazine and its leading figures, publisher Stig Sjöberg and marketing director Janet Svensson. They recognised the NDRS concept’s potential early on. Since then BILSPORT has been an important media and business partner to the series and remains so today.

NDRS Drag Racing Series facts:
At present, the series includes 10 races in four countries. Some of the events are combined with the European Drag Racing Championship. Information about classes and the race calendar for the NDRS Drag Racing Series and SDL (Swedish Dragracing League) can be found at www.speedgroup.eu 

Speedgroup facts:
Speedgroup Aktiebolag, a company registered in Sweden, has some 75 European shareholders, the majority of whom are involved in the FIA/UEM European Drag Racing Championship. Speedgroup has administered the FIA European Drag Racing Championship (for cars) since 2009 and has served as assistant administrator to promoter Keith Bartlett for the UEM European Drag Racing
Championship (for motorcycles) since 2010. Speedgroup’s responsibilities include TV production and marketing of the European Championship. Speedgroup’s long-term goal is the continuing development of drag racing in Europe.  www.speedgroup.eu

NDRS Drag Racing Series/Svensk Dragracing background:
Svensk Dragracing (the Swedish Drag Racing Association) was founded in 1993 by Kjell Pettersson, Lars Pettersson and Sussy Hofbauer to celebrate the 25th anniversary of drag racing’s introduction in Sweden. The founders’ intention was to raise drag racing’s profile in Sweden and to develop the sport throughout the Nordic countries. That same year, Svensk Dragracing inaugurated the Super Cups series, to support the newly introduced ”Super classes”, Super Gas, Super Street and Super Comp. In 1994 the series was renamed the Nordic Drag Racing Series, the Competition Eliminator and Stock/Super Stock classes were added and two new officers took on key tasks: Mats ”Macka” Eriksson took charge of the association’s finances, a position he still holds today, and Olle Elfqvist built and managed a sponsorship programme that enjoyed long-term success. In 1999, the series became the NDRS Drag Racing Series and the Pro Modified class was introduced. Today Pro Mod is the European Drag Racing Championship’s largest class and remains part of the NDRS Drag Racing Series. From its inception the series included numerous events which tracks such as Mantorp Park continue to host. Svensk Dragracing’s founders were quick to forge good relations with the USA’s chief sanctioning body, the National Hot Rod Association, and, over the years, American support, knowledge and advice has proved highly valuable.

Contacts:
Svensk Dragracing – Kjell Pettersson tel. +46 73 975 7364 Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist vor Spambots geschützt! Zur Anzeige muss JavaScript eingeschaltet sein!
NDRS Drag Racing Series – Jonas Staflund tel. +46 705 809 197 Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist vor Spambots geschützt! Zur Anzeige muss JavaScript eingeschaltet sein!
SDL Swedish Dragracing League – Jan Sjöberg tel. +46 705 419 649 Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist vor Spambots geschützt! Zur Anzeige muss JavaScript eingeschaltet sein!
Speedgroup – CEO Michael Gullqvist tel. +46 708 675 680 Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist vor Spambots geschützt! Zur Anzeige muss JavaScript eingeschaltet sein!
Speedgroup – co-ordinator Åsa Kinnemar tel. +46 705 315 332 Diese E-Mail-Adresse ist vor Spambots geschützt! Zur Anzeige muss JavaScript eingeschaltet sein!