The 12th season of Formula Nordic looms on the horizon, with the first round beginning this weekend at former Formula 1 venue Anderstorp. Get to know the teams and drivers who will compete in the Sweden-based single-seater championship this year.

By Paul Wehler

Linus Granfors’ dominance in the previous season may have left some races lacking in suspense, but there was plenty to be optimistic about for FNordic in 2023. The series featured a record grid size, hinting at the growing popularity of the championship, as well as a new collaboration with Danish F4, now called Nordic 4, that continues into this year.

Minor adjustments have been made to the calendar and format. The Formula Renault 1.6 chassis and engines will continue to be used, with Yokohama remaining the tire manufacturer.

The calendar

The season will kick off at Anderstorp Raceway instead of at Mantorp Park, as happened last year. Unlike last season, there will be six race weekends instead of seven, resulting in a slightly shorter season with 15 races instead of 17. New additions to the calendar include Falkenberg and Ljungbyhed, which replace Mantorp Park and the Skelleftea Drivecenter Arena. The rounds at Karlskoga, Falkenberg and Jyllandsringen will be held jointly with the Nordic 4 Championship.

• Round 1: Anderstorp Raceway (03–04 May)
• Round 2: Karlskoga Motorstadion (01 – 02 June)
• Round 3: Ljungbyheds Motorbana (29 – 30 June)
• Round 4: Falkenbergs Motorbana (13 – 14 July)
• Round 5: Rudskogen Motorsenter (10 – 11 August)
• Round 6: Jyllandsringen (28 – 29 September)

The format

In terms of format, collaboration with the Nordic 4 Championship on three race weekends will introduce varied race formats, with shared rounds getting three races per weekend and standalone rounds getting two.

Each race weekend will begin with a 30-minute practice session ahead of a 20-minute qualifying session. The starting grid for Race 1 will be determined by the qualifying results, while Race 2 will feature a thrilling reverse grid for the top six drivers.

If a third race is scheduled, the starting grid will be calculated from the combined results of races one and two. Notably, the points system mirrors that of Formula 1, offering 25 points for a win, 18 points for second place and 15 points for third down to one point for tenth. Additionally, qualifying will award points, with the polesitter receiving five points and the fifth-place qualifier earning one point.

Where to watch

For fans eager to catch the action, live timing will be available for all races, while selected races will be streamed for viewers worldwide. Further details regarding livestream schedules will be announced by the respective race circuits.

Teams and drivers

The final line-up of drivers for the season is still awaiting confirmation, with several drivers indicating their intention to join later in the season. Seven drivers are set to compete in the season opener.

Those not on the entry list for Anderstorp but slated to appear later in the year are single-seater newcomer Philip Engbæk, 15; 2023 FNordic runner-up and recent Chinese F4 podium finisher Oscar Pedersen, 18; and Formula Basic racer Birk August Larsen, 17, who is set to race for Norway’s RPC Motorsport after a final-round FNordic cameo with the team last season.

Project F1

One of the returning teams, Project F1, will see Swedish driver Viktor Molander (#88) take to the track, just as he did in 2023. The 16-year-old finished last season in 11th place overall, securing several top 10 results. His experience from last year as well as the smaller grid should help him contend for top positions.

Granforce Racing

Granforce Racing is back with a new driver after Granfors, the younger son of team owner Joakim Granfors, took the title last season. The team’s new contender is Swedish driver Robin Hafström (#61). The 18-year-old spent his years up to 2020 in karting before competing in the Aquila Formula 1000 series for the past three years, albeit without challenging for the title. He finished fifth in both 2022 and 2023.

Aichhorn Racing

Aichhorn Racing remains unchanged, with Swedish driver Andreas Aichhorn (#87) retaining the team’s sole cockpit, just as in his partial campaign last season. With a 10th-place finish in the overall standings last season, the 17-year-old driver has already gained valuable experience in the Formula Renault 1.6 chassis.

Saltvedt Racing

Norwegian driver Peder Saltvedt (#48) will represent Saltvedt Racing this season. The 18-year-old achieved commendable results in his rookie season last year despite missing the first two races after breaking his leg. With four fifth-place finishes in 2023 and a strong finish to the season, he can be considered a contender for the top spots this year.

Private teams

Greek driver Joannis Matentzoglou (#18) is the only non-Scandinavian competitor on the grid and the first licenced from outside the Nordic countries since 2015. The 19-year-old privateer’s previous experience is in karting. Matentzoglou explained to Feeder Series that he bought his car from Nika Racing, known for racing in the World Touring Car Championship in the early 2010s, and has kept the Swedish outfit’s basic livery despite having no direct affiliation with the team.

Albin Stureson (#23) will run his own one-man team. The 17-year-old Swede from Kristianstad competing in various karting series from 2015 to 2023 and will make his debut in single-seaters this upcoming weekend. He is the son of Scandinavian Touring Car Championship race winner Johan Stureson and the grandson of 1985 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters champion Per Stureson.

Another self-owned team in the mix is led by Swedish driver Daniel Varverud (#70). Varverud secured four podium finishes in the 2023 season and earned him third place in the overall standings. Following his impressive performances last season, the 17-year-old is undoubtedly one of the hottest prospects for the upcoming season even as a privateer.

Editor’s note, 11 July 2024, 16:23 CEST: A previous of this article stated that Joannis Matentzoglou was racing with Nika Racing. He is a privateer who purchased his car from Nika Racing.

Header photo credit: Mikael Pfügler