If you follow the Dodge YouTube channel, you may already know the name Ida Zetterström, as she was introduced as the host of the web series titled In//Out. In that series, which recently published the first episode of season two, Zetterström meets with automotive enthusiasts around Europe, stopping in Italy, Sweden, Germany, Finland and the Netherlands with her uniquely decorated Dodge Challenger SRT® Hellcat.
In addition to being the host of the popular web series, Ida Zetterström has been chosen to be the brand’s ambassador for Europe as Dodge begins to grow their presence overseas. With Zetterström becoming more and more involved with the Dodge brand, we wanted to give members of the Brotherhood of Muscle a better idea of who she is and why she was chosen to be the brand ambassador for Europe.
Before getting into the details with Zetterström, we should explain that she is an up-and-comer in the world of drag racing, having dominated the 2023 FIA European Drag Racing Series schedule en route to the FIA Top Fuel championship in just her second season. Zetterström won the Top Fuel class at all three of the events that were held for the 2023 season (two other events were canceled due to weather) along with a fourth, non-FIA event. Again, that domination comes in her second season in a Top Fuel dragster.
In addition to already being an FIA Drag Racing champion, Zetterström has set a few major records. During her first event of the 2022 season, she became the first European drag racer to run in the 3.7-second range, running a 3.782 to claim the record for the quickest Top Fuel pass in European history. Then, during the 2023 season, she reset her own record with a 3.773 at 321 miles per hour – a Top Fuel record that still stands today.
Prior to racing the Top Fuel car, Zetterström was a beast in the world of motorcycle racing, winning championships and setting records since she was in her early 20s. Before that, she raced and won in the junior dragster ranks, so in a very short racing career, she has gone from juniors to motorcycles to Top Fuel dragsters, and she has set records and won titles all along the way. She has already had an incredible career in Europe and later this year, she will begin racing in the NHRA while also serving as the Dodge brand ambassador for Europe.
So, who is Ida Zetterström?
Ida Zetterström was born in Sweden, where she still resides today. Her father built race engines, so since he was at the track frequently, she started tagging along at the young age of three. She immediately became a fan of anything that goes fast and when she was just 8 years old, she started racing junior dragsters. She would race Junior Stock and Junior Modified, piling up wins in both classes until she was 16 years old, at which point she began racing motorcycles. She moved through the motorcycle drag racing ranks, collecting wins and setting records with her 6-second drag bike.
After a tremendous amount of success in motorcycle racing, in 2021, Ida decided it was time to move into a Top Fuel dragster. During her licensing process, Zetterström ran a 3.862, marking the quickest licensing pass ever recorded by the FIA while placing her fourth among the quickest Top Fuel racers in Europe – and that was just during licensing. Once she started racing in her first season of the FIA Drag Racing Championship in 2022, she continued to set records while bringing home her first win in just her second event. She dominated the 2023 FIA Top Fuel class, claiming her first championship in just her second season. She literally went from a junior dragster to a 6-second motorcycle to a 3-second dragster – winning races, setting records and claiming championships along the way.
We asked Zetterström about the drag racing scene in Sweden, as the sport is not quite as popular as it is in the United States, but she explained that while there are fewer events and venues, they get big crowds.
“It’s actually really big. While we don’t have as many races as here in the US, when we have them, people really come together to support our events. We can easily have between 50,000 – 80,000 fans attend the event. It’s a fantastic atmosphere,” said Zetterström. “Growing up, I lived near several tracks that were close. However, as a teenager we moved to a small island that made it more difficult to do. But when you love something, you make it happen.”
Along similar lines, we asked if it was difficult to find parts for a Top Fuel car in Europe, where there are far fewer teams and shops.
“Yes and no. It takes a little longer to get everything and we must source things in a different way than in the US. Mainly we source through the teams in the US. We just don’t have the same kind of budget in Europe as the US teams, so we have to buy from the US teams when they have parts to sell.”
When she isn’t piloting a 3-second dragster, Zetterström drives a Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat around Sweden, so we asked about her experiences with the supercharged muscle car overseas.
“Where I grew up in Sweden and Finland muscle cars are surprisingly around more than you may think. There’s a lot of Swedish and Finnish big muscle car fans and owners. But I will say when people see a Challenger SRT like mine, people are very excited to see it and tell you so! It’s just so versatile! It’s one of the most fun cars you will ever drive on the street. You have all the power, I love the sound it makes, I love the torque it has. But also, you can fill it with everything you need on a road trip. I’ve slept in the back of it SO MANY TIMES on road trips.”
While Ida Zetterström usually lives in Sweden, she has been spending time in the United States, training for something big.
“I have been living in the US for a few months. I have been preparing to make my NHRA debut in the Top Fuel class with my teammate Tony Schumacher at JCM Racing,” said Zetterström. “I started coming to the NHRA five years ago because I knew that this is where I wanted to eventually compete. Originally, I made a lot of contacts through the drag bike classes, but when I started racing Top Fuel, I extended my networking to the NHRA Top Fuel teams. The people in the NHRA Top Fuel class have been kind enough to connect me to other teams and drivers.”
In addition to preparing for her NHRA Top Fuel debut, Zetterström has spent time at Radford Racing School, which included some time with Dodge Top Fuel racer Leah Pruett and some track time with the new Dodge Hornet R/T and the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 – praising the thousand-horsepower muscle car for its track-friendly features.
“I was invited to the school by Mark Valentino from Radford. But then I spoke to Dodge, and they had the idea to also have Leah come and to film content while taking courses and getting instruction. She’s a great person and we had a lot of fun! Also, we were able to create content about the new Dodge R/T Hornet,” said Zetterström. “I think that the Hornet is a great car for the market and the person who is looking to have a crossover, CHECK IT OUT FOR SURE! It was super fun to drive!”
Finally, we asked Zetterström what has been her favorite part about being in the United States working with Dodge and what models are her favorite classic and modern Dodge products.
“Taking the opportunity to start my amazing relationship with Dodge in Europe and now to be here in the US and seeing the Dodge vehicles everywhere and all of the passionate fans of the brand that come to the NHRA events! The Dodge muscle cars fit my exact idea of the car I would want and now that is what I drive in my personal life. So, it’s been great to experience the passion and see the cars and the fans in the US.
“It’s funny, my favorite heritage Dodge is actually a 1957 Dodge pickup truck. And then for me, my Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat is my favorite, so it works perfectly! I will also say that having the chance to drive the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 at Radford was awesome, what a car!”
Ida Zetterström will soon be competing in the NHRA Top Fuel Dragster ranks, so we’ll be able to watch her compete in the North American drag racing big leagues in addition to her continued hosting role on the Dodge YouTube channel.
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