When the second race weekend of the season in Aquila Formula 1000, the main entry-level class in formula car racing, visited Gelleråsen in Karlskoga on June 3-4, it was a meritorious trio of drivers who got their hands on all the podium places.
The trio consisted of reigning Aquila champion Kevin Suenson from Denmark, national team driver Joel Granfors and Elias Adestam. The trio took a win each during the race weekend, and all three were on the podium in all races.
But the trio were not alone at the top during the weekend at Gelleråsen. Fastest in qualifying was Dante Johansson ahead of Joel Granfors and Robin Hafström. Even during the race it was tight, as the front pack sometimes consisted of up to eight cars fighting for the podium places.
Joel Granfors opened the weekend by winning race one on Saturday, ahead of Suenson and Adestam.
– It was a great fun as usual in Aquila. Very close racing all weekend, and different winners in each race. I think we changed places in the lead almost every lap or two. Really fun to drive on Gelleråsen too, because as it is one of my favourite tracks in Sweden, says Granfors, who then finished third in race two which was won by Elias Adestam – Adestam’s first win in Aquila.
Adestam’s first victory in Aquila Formula 1000
The weekend was rounded off with Kevin Suenson taking his second win of the season, strengthening his lead in the Senior Championship.
Elias Adestam, Joel Granfors and Kevin Suenson
– I think it was an OK weekend. Had a little trouble finding the slipstream in qualifying, but otherwise had a good balance in the car. In the first race I made a good run from seventh to second place. With the win in race three and a third place overall, it was a good weekend of points, says Kevin Suenson, who won race three ahead of Granfors and Adestam.
In the Junior Championship, Robin Hafström, Richard Olsson and Andreas Skatteboe all had a strong weekend. Olson was fourth in races two and three, but thanks to Robin Hafström’s very strong qualifying (2nd) and first heat (4th), Hafström took the big prize check of SEK 5,000 as the weekend’s best junior, closely followed by Richard and then Andreas in 3rd place.
Richard Olson, Robin Hafström and Andreas Skatteboe
– It was a good weekend. Always fun to come back to Gelleråsen, where I’ve had good races before and it was nice that the trend continued this time as well. The Aquila class always offers entertaining and educational racing, says Robin Hafström.
Dante Johansson, who led the Junior Championship before the weekend, DNF the first race. Johansson then had to start second to last in race two, but came back strongly with a seventh and fifth place in the 17-car Aquila class.
12-year-old Portuguese Rodrigo Seabra showed mature driving despite his young age in his second weekend in Aquila, taking three top ten finishes at Gelleråsen.
Rodrigo Seabra helps Elias Adestam in post-race weighing
In the Junior Championship, Dante Johansson leads by 12 points ahead of Richard Olson after the second weekend. Kevin Suenson tops the senior class, also here with 12 points ahead of runner-up Elias Adestam.
– It’s great to see these tight races, you get completely exhausted from standing by watching, says Michael Karpers, promotor of Aquila Formula 1000.
– In an entry-level class like ours, a lot of exciting things happen behind the absolute top. Viktor Karlsson did a really good qualifying, and Oscar Mellstig’s heat two was guaranteed to be the best of his career. But unfortunately he didn’t get to go all the way, as a collision with Christian Lovén forced him off the track. But up until then he had very good speed. I also want to take the opportunity to mention the newcomer Pete Norbäck from Härnösand, who I think made a really good and stable debut and also the rookie Fredrik Lindholm clearly showing rising form.
Round three of the Aquila Formula 1000 season 2023 takes place at Sturup Raceway outside Malmö on June 15-18.
