In the first of a regular series of features AndyCarter.net will be bringing you exclusive updates from the Carter Motorsport / Andersen Racing / Lucas Oil workshop.

In European Top Fuel there is no such thing as a quiet off season but this year it has been especially busy. Not long after we had unveiled Lucas Oil sponsorship at AutoSport 2007 we were announcing Carter Motorsport would be joining forces with Andersen Racing. The restructuring of the team affected us all - it was very difficult to lose such a dedicated and highly skilled crew that had propelled Carter Motorsport to two FIA championship titles and numerous record setting runs. But we were all committed to providing the best exposure possible for Lucas Oil and our associate sponsors and we knew that Per and Karsten Andersen, their magnificent crew and simply awesome car would allow us to do this. Of course all of this means we now have a 'show car' and a 'race car', and that means twice as much work...

In the UK the crew have been busy getting the 'show car' ready for its long list of appearances over the summer. On a sunny Sunday in April the crew gathered at the workshop to perform all of the non-glamorous tasks that the spectators don't normally see - the show car was cleaned, support vehicles were serviced, a merchandise stock take was carried out and the outside of the trailer was even washed by hand - with some of the crew ending up wetter than the trailer!

Over the weekend of 27-29 April the 'race car' was taken to the huge Fredericia Messecenter in Denmark for the Fast and Furious Car Show. The exhibition centre recorded its largest ever attendance during the show and the Lucas Oil dragster received a great response from the public with large crowds gathering to see the car.

In the Danish workshop Crew Chiefs Per and Karsten Andersen and the rest of the crew have been hard at work preparing the car for the first race of the season, the FIA Main Event at Santa Pod Raceway. The 2006 championship winning car is in great shape for the new season. Karsten tells us, "We haven't made any major changes since last season but we do now have electronic fuel and clutch timers which will make it easier and faster to change settings. The car looks great in the Lucas Oil colours. We have lots of new parts - from short blocks, to heads to blowers... and we even have a lighter driver!"

There is a real buzz in the Carter Motorsport / Andersen Racing team at the moment and we simply can't wait to get to the track and send that Lucas Oil dragster flying down the strip. Karsten sums it up well when he says, "We are all going to England with a good feeling in our stomachs... we are confident of a very good season!"

See you at the 'Pod!

Gary Cottingham
Carter Motorsport

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