Santa Pod’s 60th anniversary season lifts off when family attractions join two big races in one bumper Bank Holiday weekend

On the track on the Northamptonshire border near Wellingborough, the new Carl Cox Motorsport Series will provide the opening salvo on Thursday and Friday.

Then running from Friday to Bank Holiday Monday, the main event will bring more than 300 car and motorcycle teams from 18 countries to contest the first round of the FIA/FIM European Drag Racing Championships.

Off track, the weekend will have family attractions each day.

The superstar DJ and motorsport entrepreneur Carl Cox drag races regularly in Australia in the Pro Mod class – saloon cars in silhouette but all-out, 250mph racing machines under the skin – and the Carl Cox Motorsport Series will drop £20,000 on the line to entice Europe’s leading Pro Mod stars into battle at each of three races during the season.

Pro Mods are drag racing’s most expensive ‘door car’ class and Cox hopes this new series and prize money will help support and grow the Pro Mod category, particularly for teams operating on more limited budgets.

Owing to music commitments, the DJ will miss this first contest in the series and a respected substitute will drive his US-built car.

However, Cox is set to climb back behind the wheel in the next two races scheduled for July and September.

All manner of cars – door cars, dragsters, altereds, roadsters and motorcycles too – will fill the paddock when The Main Event presents the opening round of 2026’s FIA and FIM European Drag Racing Championships.

The entry list currently stands at 305, with 18 countries represented.

Machinery ranging from the most powerful two- and four-wheeled vehicles on the planet – Top Fuel Dragsters and Bikes – right down to their miniature Junior Dragster and Dragbike counterparts – drivers and riders starting from age eight – populate a rich and diverse racing programme with an array of entertainment attractions attached.

Europe’s two fastest women drivers will headline the 11,000-horsepower Top Fuel Dragster show.

Sweden’s Susanne Callin (320.20mph) and Switzerland’s Jndia Erbacher (320.15mph) have wrapped up the past two seasons’ FIA European Championships between them.

Meanwhile Colin Millar will maintain his quest to be Scotland’s fastest driver.

The popular Outlaw Anglia racer has burnished his brand name The Flyin’ Fyfer on a Top Fuel Dragster’s flanks in a bid to earn his Top Fuel licence and run with the fast ladies.

Pro Mods will be in action again, this time chasing championships.

The Main Event combines two Pro Mod races in one: round one of the FIA European Pro Mod Championship and round two of the FuelTech Motorsport UK British Drag Racing Championship.

Twenty entrants will battle through qualifying on Saturday and Sunday to earn one of the 16 precious spots in Monday’s instant knock-out rounds.

Finland’s reigning European Champion, Jere Rantaniemi, seeks a hat-trick of FIA crowns.

Estonia’s Andres Arnover is 2025’s Motorsport UK champion. Both have 250mph-plus terminal speeds to their credit – so has Santa Pod local hero Jon Webster, Britain’s only Pro Mod star yet to top that magic barrier.

Fields of Top Methanol and Pro Stock cars complete the FIA championship list.

Ground-pounding nitro Funny Cars head the accompanying programme with a range of UK national championship Sportsman classes in support. Spectacular Jet Cars are an added attraction.

On two wheels, the FIM European Championship brings entries in Top Fuel Bike, nitro SuperTwin, Pro Stock and Super Street bikes.

Sweden’s Top Fuel Bike star Rikard Gustafsson returns with Europe’s quickest, fastest competition motorcycle, 5.638sec/260.65mph, to defend his European title.

Paddock access is free for a close-up view of all the pitside action.

Along with Santa Pod’s regular menu of live action arena shows – Monster Trucks, stunt riding and biking – funfair rides, vendors, food stalls and evening musical entertainments, there are special performances during the weekend.

Saturday brings the DroneSwarm drone show and Sunday will be the Mayfair Marching Band.

Round one of the Carl Cox Motorsport Series takes place from Thursday, May 21 to Friday, May 22.

For more details visit https://santapod.co.uk/results/carl-cox-motorsport-series/

FIA/FIM The Main Event takes place from Friday, May 22 to Monday, May 25. For more details visit https://santapod.co.uk/main-event.php.

Tickets can be booked in advance, either online at https://santapodtickets.com/ or by calling the box office at 01234 782828.