Drag racing: Summer Nationals - Santa Pod

The largest field of Funny Cars and dragsters in Europe has been assembled for the Budweiser Summer Nationals at Santa Pod, Bedfordshire, this weekend. Fourteen teams from the Continent meet 11 British entries in the fourth round of European Top Alcohol Series, the last round before the World finals, also held at Santa Pod, next month. The Top Alcohol category, using a less powerful fuel, was introduced because of the prohibitive running costs of the Top Fuel class. The difference is academic as speeds of 230mph are achieved from a standing start in the six seconds the cars are on the quarter-mile course.

How to get there: Santa Pod Raceway, Bedfordshire, is signposted from exit 14 of M1 and close to A1 and A6 (Tel: 0234- 781676). Weekend ticket: pounds 32 adults. Daily: Tomorrow: pounds 10 adults. Sunday: pounds 12.50. Monday: pounds 15. Children aged 11 to 16 are half-price, 11 and under free. Grandstand seats (sold daily) pounds 3. Racing tomorrow, Sunday and Monday runs from 10am to 6pm.