Anita
Anita Mäkelä has been drag racing since 1987, starting in Competition before moving up to Top Alcohol (now Top Methanol Dragster) and then Top Fuel Dragster. She is the first European drag racer to win European Championships in two categories, having won Top Alcohol titles in 1994 and 1996 and the FIA Top Fuel Championship in 2000. In 2001 Anita finished 2nd in the FIA Top Fuel Championship before taking a year out from the sport to concentrate on her business in 2002.
Anita's career has been one of extremes, either going very well or disastrously. She has had three bad accidents but never even considered giving up, kept going by her willpower and a desire to win. "I have to have a chance of winning or I'm not interested", she says.
Drag Racing is one of the few sports in which gender is not an issue. "There is no reason not to race just because you are a woman", she says.
Anita and husband Tommi Haapanen have two children, daughter Hanna and son Heikki, born during Anita's two 'career breaks'. "This sport gives me a great excuse to be a bad mum and leave the kids at home. After a race weekend the kids look so nice again!"
Tommi and Anita Top Fuel Racing
Tommi and Anita Top Fuel Racing Ltd is owned by Anita Makela and Tommi Haapanen. The company was established in 1997 after Anita and Tommi's marriage. The two Finnish racers have their workshop at their chicken farm in Vilppula.
Tommi and Anita Top Fuel Oy
Makelantie 74
35700 Vilppula
Finland
Phone: +358-3-4713111
Fax: +358-3-4716600
Biography
| Born |
12.01.1961 |
| Family |
Husband Tommi Haapanen
Daughter Hanna Haapanen
Son Heikki Haapanen |
| Home |
Vilppula, Finland
About 250 Km north of Helsinki |
| Job |
Chicken farmer
Broiler parent farm and hatchery |
| Hobbies |
All motorsports
Skiing and other outdoor activities |
| Favourite TV |
Ruutulippu
Motor Forum
Sports programmes
Emmerdale |
| Favourite food |
Chicken meals of all kinds
Pasta |
| Good at |
Killing flies |
Career
| 1987 |
First race in Finland, in Competition
Finnish Competition record holder |
| 1988 |
1st in Finnish Competition Championship |
| 1989 |
1st in Finnish Competition Championship
First seven-second ET in Finland in Competition Dragster
Lady Racing Award from AKK (Finnish Automobile Sport Federation) |
| 1990 |
1st in Finnish Top Alcohol Championship
1st in Scandinavian Top Alcohol Championship
European record holder in Top Alcohol
FHRA Driver of the Year |
| 1991 |
2nd in Finnish Top Alcohol Championship
Scandinavian and Finnish record holder in Top Alcohol |
| 1992 |
2nd in European Top Alcohol Championship
3rd in Finnish Top Alcohol Championship
Budweiser Drag Series Personality of the Year award |
| 1993 |
2nd in European Top Alcohol Championship
2nd in Finnish Top Alcohol Championship |
| 1994 |
1st in European Top Alcohol Championship
1st in Finnish Top Alcohol Championship
1st in Swedish Top Alcohol Championship
European record holder 5.950/376 Kmh |
| 1995 |
Bad crash at Santa Pod in April, but made speedy recovery
3rd in European Top Alcohol Championship
Quickest ET in Europe 5.920
Fastest Terminal Speed in Europe 382 Kmh |
| 1996 |
1st in FIA European Top Alcohol Championship
1st in Finnish Top Alcohol Championship
European record holder 5.880
Lady Racing Award from AKK (Finnish Automobile Sport Federation) |
| 1997 |
Gained Top Fuel licence |
| 1998 |
Driving Peter Lantz's Top Fueller
3rd in FIA European Top Fuel Championship
Finnish record holder 5.03/450 Kmh |
| 1999 |
Did not race |
| 2000 |
1st in FIA European Top Fuel Championship
Lady Racing Award from AKK (Finnish Automobile Sport Federation) |
| 2001 |
2nd in FIA European Top Fuel Championship |
| 2002 |
Did not race |
| 2003 |
5th FIA European Top Fuel Championship
First 4 sec run in Finland |
| 2004 |
Did not race |
|
