Santa pod raceway
Experience the thrill of Drag Racing at Santa Pod Raceway.
The incredible thunder and bone-shaking vibration of two 8000bhp race cars launching at 6 Gs of acceleration is an experience not to be missed! Less than 5 seconds later, the spectacle of two 25-foot Top Fuel Dragsters bending against the downforce in a struggle to keep all four tyres on the track at over 300mph is unforgettable!
But that's just the beginning. Located near Northampton, Santa Pod Raceway has earned the reputation as Europe's most action-packed motor sport venue, and features the most powerful cars and bikes in the world.
Each season presents a calendar of events for people of all ages to watch and participate in the exciting sport of Drag Racing. Whether you're a new fan, an aspiring racer or a little of both, there's sure to be an event at Santa Pod this season to take your breath away.
What is Drag Racing?
A drag race is a quarter mile contest between two vehicles racing side by side in a straight line. In most drag racing categories, the first vehicle to the finish line wins. Drag Racing has its origins in the USA during the 1920's where all over America, roads were being used to settle the "mine is faster than yours argument" and Drag Racing was born.
Drag Racing took off in the UK during the 1960's when, like in the USA, many of the old disused airstrips around the country were converted to drag strips.
Podington airfield was formerly a wartime airbase used by the USAAF during the Second World War. In 1968 permission was obtained to use the airfield as a drag racing complex, the ¾ of a mile main runway being used as the drag strip. The track was named Santa Pod after the Santa Ana strip in America. Since then the name has become synonymous with the sport of Drag Racing in Europe.
The Events.
Santa Pod hosts National Championship rounds plus the opening and closing rounds of the prestigious televised FIA European Drag Racing Championships as seen on Motors TV, Xtreme TV, Channel 5 and indeed all over the world. In addition, numerous specialist events are held at the venue as well as the famous Run What Ya Brung (RWYB) series of track days where many of today's professional drag racers started their careers and where anyone can try their hand at drag racing with their own car or bike on the famous Santa Pod drag strip.