The season’s second round of Aquila Formula 1000 — the Nordic region’s premier entry-level formula car racing series — was decided at the MidSweden Race Weekend, where 20 drivers gathered for three new races in the battle for championship points.
Already in qualifying, Albin Gustafsson showed he had found his rhythm on the circuit outside Härnösand. The junior driver set the fastest time ahead of Andreas Skatteboe and Even Hoff Knai, claiming his first pole position of the season.
When Race 1 got underway, Gustafsson continued in the same vein. After several lead changes at the front, he managed to build a small gap over Andreas Skatteboe and championship leader Even Hoff Knai, and drove home his second win of the season.
“Qualifying went really well and I put together a perfect lap where every corner was exactly as I wanted it. Race 1 started with some position changes among us at the front, but then I managed to create a gap of a few car lengths and hold it to the flag. Race 3 was really tight with lots of overtaking and great racing, and when I got through with a few minutes to go I managed to hold the lead all the way to the finish,” says Albin Gustafsson.
Race 2 took a dramatic turn. Following a red flag and restart, race control decided to cancel the laps after the restart due to problems with the marshalling posts. As a result, Hoff Knai was declared the winner ahead of Gustafsson and Skatteboe.
The weekend closed with yet another tight race where several drivers fought for the win. Once again Gustafsson came out on top, taking the victory ahead of Hoff Knai and Enzo Cohlin, while Andreas Skatteboe finished fourth.
Behind the front runners, several names continued to impress. William Eriksson took three consecutive fourth and fifth place finishes. Pete Norbäck recorded two sixth places, while Carl-Wilhelm Björnemalm took his best result of the season with seventh in Race 2. Max Stjernelund and Enzo Cohlin also showed strong pace across the weekend, with Cohlin rounding out the event with his first podium of the year.
MidSweden Race Weekend
The Rookie standings for the weekend were entirely Nordic: Even Hoff Knai (Norway) ahead of Carl-Wilhelm Björnemalm (Sweden) and Mason Bjerring (Denmark). Bjerring also set the fastest lap of the weekend, despite an unlucky weekend plagued by technical issues.
The Senior podium went to Skatteboe, Varland and Celina Hessman in third.
“Mittsverigebanan was a completely new circuit for me with a lot to learn. Qualifying was good, but when you’re third and only a tenth away from pole it’s a little frustrating. In the races there were some great battles and I picked up a huge amount of experience. I made a few mistakes that cost me positions, but that’s what you learn from as a rookie. At the same time I’m very happy to have stood on the podium in all three races, even if the weekend wasn’t entirely perfect,” says Even Hoff Knai.
After two rounds, the season now moves on to Sturup Raceway in Skåne outside Malmö on 27–28 June, alongside SSK, where the fight for points in the Overall Championship, Junior Championship, Rookie Championship and Senior Championship continues.
