Aquila Formula 1000 once again delivered close racing as this year’s fifth round was decided during SSK Raceweek at Kinnekulle Ring. After a weekend where several drivers got involved in the fight for the top, the championship lead also shifted. Norway’s Even Hoff Knai leaves Kinnekulle as the new leader in both the Overall Championship and the Junior standings, while Andreas Skatteboe continues to control the Senior Championship.
The weekend began with Enzo Cohlin taking his first pole position in Aquila Formula 1000, ahead of Andreas Skatteboe and Kevin Strandberg. In the first race, Enzo followed up with his first overall win in the series, while Albin Gustafsson responded with victory in race two. The season’s fifth round concluded with Even Hoff Knai on top of the podium, after yet another race where several drivers fought for the win all the way to the finish line.
Enzo Cohlin, together with Even Hoff Knai, was the weekend’s big points scorer. In addition to pole position, he took his first outright win, set the fastest lap in both races two and three, and collected 100 points over the weekend.
“Really happy about my first ‘real’ win. I already had a Junior-RM win, but this feels extra special. It also feels really good to have scored the most points over the whole weekend. We got to race in all conditions and were treated to a lot of tight, fun racing,” says Enzo Cohlin.
Heading into the weekend, Albin Gustafsson led both the Overall Championship and the Junior standings. With a win, a third place, and a fourth place, he continued to pick up important points, but it wasn’t enough to keep the lead. Even Hoff Knai took over first place in the standings after a very solid weekend with two second places and a win.
“The first race was very exciting in the rain and I managed to work my way up to second place. In race two I made a few tactical mistakes that I learned from. In the last race everything worked much better, and after a good restart behind the safety car I was able to bring home the win. Leaving Kinnekulle as championship leader feels really good,” says Even Hoff Knai.
Behind the top duo, several other drivers also continued to strengthen their positions. Denmark’s Mason Bjerring took three top-five finishes, cementing fourth place in the Junior standings and fifth overall. William Eriksson had perhaps his most consistent race weekend of the year with finishes of sixth, fifth, and sixth, lifting him to seventh place in the Junior standings and eighth in the Overall Championship.
In the Senior Championship, Andreas Skatteboe continues to set the pace. Three podium finishes over the weekend extend his lead, while Celina Hessman holds on to second place.
The weekend also saw the debut of Swedish Motorsport Federation sporting consultant Niklas Falk, who competed in Aquila Formula 1000 for the first time. After completing three races, he finished seventh in the first race, among other results.
“Great fun not just to be at the track, but to actually race too. It felt good to keep up with the pace, even though I notice I don’t quite dare as much as I used to. I chose to drive with a margin and bring the car home. Hopefully there will be more racing in the future,” says Niklas Falk.
After five of seven rounds, only three points now separate Even Hoff Knai and Albin Gustafsson in the fight for the Overall Championship and Junior standings. Now the season’s final two rounds await – first Rudskogen in Norway on 8-9 August, followed by the finale at Ring Djursland in Denmark on 19-20 September.
