There were quite a few reasons. The early thing that pushed me toward TF, was the first time I ever really took notice of a TF Dragster, it was at the Texas Motorplex in Dallas. I’m pretty sure it was 1990 and I was living in Dallas at the time. It was a ‘Chevy Super Sunday’ meet, pretty low key but Don Prudomme was there testing his new TF car, I remember seeing the car being pushed out of their pit to the fire up road and I had a chance to get up real close. I just remember thinking what a beautiful racecar, the detailing and build quality was fantastic, but the main thing that interested me was every part and detail of the car was designed to help the car do one thing, go as quick and fast as possible. TF cars are pure race car, no compromises! After this day I knew that I wanted to drive TF! The next reasons were during 94 when running in the Outlaw Anglia Championship. I was doing so much maintenance on the blown alcohol hemi that I had in the car, I thought I may as well put this engine in a TF car, run in that class and get some money for racing. I also saw a great marketing / sponsorship opportunity because at that time there was no English driver in the class and thought surely as the only English driver I could attract sponsorship. I had also spoken to the then owner of Santa Pod, Bo Meftha and he had said he would help me as much as he could by paying me to appear at non drag racing events at the Pod with the car.

For me the feeling after winning a Championship is actually a big come down, you have achieved what you have been thinking about and planning / working towards virtually 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for sometimes years. It’s almost a relief that’s it’s over, an empty feeling. Than of course you start thinking about the next goal.

It’s very hard to describe, but you can tell when you are on a good one and gone over 300mph, the engine note changes in the last 250ft or so of the run and this is where the revs have risen on the motor slightly. I personally feel good if I win the round and of course bad if I lose. My body feels fine, never had any problems (physically) driving a TF car except once in 96, when I picked up a slight neck injury.

Yes I would love to race in America, been close a couple of times. Took my whole operation to Dallas, Tx at the end of season 97 but that didn’t quite work out. Two other attempts, spent the 03 Gatornationals with Don Garlits after having talks with him about doing one event in his car and more recently (interview was Nov 2003, answer was Jan 04) got very close to securing a drive for a top flight fuel funny car team. The dreams still there and me and the Wizard (Rune) often have a casual chat about it!

Most mornings I’m up by 5 and working in my office, I find this time of the day great, it’s so peaceful and you can really get stuff done. The last 4 seasons we have ended in Nov and been at the Nec Autosport show in Jan, so I don’t really have an off season any more. There is so much mantenice to do on the equipment and vehicles at the end of a season, 2 TF cars, truck and trailer, pick up, motorhome and Focus support car. I like to try to keep everything in first class condition mechanically and visually and this takes a lot of time, money and effort. Then there's tons of cleaning, maintenance and organising on tools, starters, batteries, the workshop etc all the stuff that’s behind the scene that people don’t see. Then there’s plenty of paperwork, booking flights, booking hotels, getting team clothing organised, getting merchandise organised, keeping all the sponsors up to date and happy, keeping the web site fresh, chasing new sponsors, answering e-mails, getting posters / flyers done, ordering everything we need for the next season, etc etc! This is why you need good people around you, you need to delegate, and it’s easy to get the hangers on, but difficult to get good people. I can’t speak highly enough of my team, my sponsors and other people around me that support me.

There’s no going back after driving a TF car, (in fact I had a conversation with Thomas Natthas about this at Easter) but, if I had to compete in one of these classes it would be Pro Mod of course. I’d choose the slipperiest car, with a good wheelbase and put a blown motor in it, hemi of course! Sounds so easy when you say it like that, don’t it!

I hold the track record at SCR and Mantorp Pk Sweden. The Fia speed record, Fia et record and have held some of these for quite a while now. What I’m getting to is, I’m not interested in records, except winning the Fia European TF Championship 3 times. I have had my fair share, I just want to go rounds. I don’t care if I win them with a 9 or a 4, pretty or ugly, I just want points this year.

The Carter Motorsport mission statement is, to win the Fia European Top Fuel Championship and gain maximum exposure for our sponsors. I will be giving it 100% as usual. The great thing is I’ve got a team behind me that are giving it 100% as well, since I have moved Ben Allum up to Crew Chief there's a real buzz about the whole team from Crew Chief to merchandise girl, Kim. Even Rune smiles sometimes! To sum up, the whole team is hungry, not just Carter!

I would like you to start by saying, well done Andy on  winning your 3 ^{rd Fia European Top Fuel Championship.}