Aquila Formula 1000 is gearing up for the long-awaited season premiere at Mantorp Park
This weekend, the starting signal will be given for Aquila Formula 1000, the Nordic region’s premier entry-level series in formula car racing, which will run its season premiere at the classic Mantorp Park during the Spring Race.
Aquila Formula 1000, officially Junior-RM in collaboration with the Swedish Motorsports Association, is entering an exciting season in 2025. Where an exciting calendar awaits with races on both Sweden’s best tracks, as well as a race weekend in Denmark at Ring Djursland in August.
The season premiere at Mantorp Park offers almost 20 cars in the growing class. 2025 will offer new champions, as neither Junior or Senior winners Richard Olson nor Kevin Suenson from 2024 are on the starting line.
Suenson, who through his newly started team KENDA Motorsport, steps into a role as team manager and mentor – something that reflects the development in the championship where experienced drivers work to help new young talents advance in their careers.
Among this year’s newcomers are 13-year-old Gustav Berglund and Enzo Cohlin, both with strong results from karting at the national level. They are joined by Deven Lewis Grabko, the Swedish-American who impressed greatly in last year’s karting season with double SM titles and international starts. Agnes Varland Ejsing also makes an entrance, a familiar face in the pit, but now for the first time behind the wheel.
– It’s a big step, but I’m ready. I want to learn as much as possible, be competitive right away and see how far we can take it, says Deven Lewis Grabko.
Linus Stjernelund comes from the electric car series NXT Gen Cup, who together with his younger brother Max makes a joint debut for Team EK Motorsport. Albin Gustafsson from Västmanland is switching from junior racing in the Renault Junior Cup, while Celina Hessman is making an exciting transition from motocross and enduro to four wheels in single-seaters
– I am here to make an impression. My goal is to fight for both the rookie, junior and overall championship titles this year, says Linus Stjernelund.
Several exciting names are also returning to the starting field. William Isaksson and Leonél Skaar showed smooth and fast driving during their rookie seasons, while Fredrik Lindholm is aiming for his first podium in 2025. Oscar Mellstig is in his fourth season, while William Eriksson and Pete Norbäck are doing their first full seasons after previously showing their forefoot in jump-offs.
Aquila veteran Andreas Skatteboe, now also team manager for the newly started Skatteboe Motorsport, is doing his fifth season and sharing the senior position with Kalle Svensson, who has two years under his belt and top 10 results from 2024.
– The goal for the season is definitely to fight for the championship, but also to take the car to the finish line in every race. After last year’s bad luck, this feels like a new start, says Andreas Skatteboe
Championship promoter Johan Varland, enters the starting field once again in the role of both driver and promoter.
– We have never had such a strong and even starting field for a premiere. It is fantastic to see so many young talents taking their first steps in formula car racing here with us. We are more ready than ever for a new season full of fight, development and racing joy, says Johan Varland.
The season premiere at Mantorp Park begins with testing, qualifying and Race 1 on Saturday. On Sunday, two more races will be run.
The race will be livestreamed via Aquila Formula 1000 on Youtube.
Links:
Livestream Race 1 – https://youtube.com/live/DyQhuZ3_NBE
Livestream Race 2 – https://youtube.com/live/7XuHVecGth4
Livestream Race 3 – https://youtube.com/live/cNiyb3rD2l4
Press photos from the pre-season tests. Photo: Bengt-Åce Gustavsson – racefoto.se
