Rushden racing driver who survived cancer set to return to 300mph action after 10 years away

The Festival of Power returns to Santa Pod Raceway from April 3 to April 5 and will include Funny Cars, which has been described as drag racing’s ‘most violent driving – and spectating – experience.’

Powered by supercharged nitro-burning engines hidden beneath replica production car bodies and punching out more than 10,000 brutal horsepower on a short wheelbase, they are a handling nightmare.

But John Spuffard is Europe’s proven master of the craft.

The Rushden veteran racer will step back into the Funny Car wars after a decade-long absence which has seen him survive a battle with cancer.

In 2007, Spuffard had punctured Funny Car’s 300mph barrier for the first time on this side of the Atlantic, clocking 305.98mph over the classic quarter-mile, later achieving 309.36mph in 2009.

Having begun piloting these volatile machines as long ago as 1984, he had teamed up in 1990 with another British racer, Bob Jarrett, to compete under their joint Showtime banner, a partnership maintained until both stepped away in 2015.

But now they are reuniting.

Last season, Jarrett returned from California to revive the Showtime brand.

Handled by Swedish and American drivers and now racing over today’s safety-conscious 1,000-foot course, Showtime again cracked the 300mph barrier over this shorter distance.

Now Spuffard is stepping back into the driving seat.

The Easter weekend’s Festival of Power launches Santa Pod Raceway’s 60th anniversary season and John Spuffard’s return to action will be one of many highlights in a programme combining championship drag racing with all manner of family entertainments and attractions.

The three-day Festival of Power takes place from Friday, April 3 to Sunday, April 5 (but not on Easter Monday).

Tickets are bookable only online or by phone - visit https://santapodtickets.com/ or call the box office on 01234 782828.

Full event information can be found at https://santapod.co.uk/festival-of-power.php.

Santa Pod Raceway opened in 1966 as Europe’s first permanent drag racing venue, located on a former Second World War airfield.

The raceway is on the Bedfordshire-Northamptonshire border near Wellingborough.