Karlskoga Motorstadion, also known as Gelleråsen Arena, is the oldest permanent motorsport race track in Sweden. The circuit is located 6 km (3.7 mi) north of Karlskoga. The layout is such that the whole track can be seen from all spectator areas.[1]
 Full Circuit (2006–2016) | |
| Location | Karlskoga, Sweden |
|---|---|
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) CEST (DST) |
| Coordinates | 59°23′00″N 14°30′58″E / 59.38333°N 14.51611°E |
| Opened | 1949 |
| Former names | Karlskoga Motorstadion |
| Major events | Current: Kanonloppet (1950–1975, 1996–present) Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia (2004–2011, 2013, 2015–present) Nordic 4 Championship (2023–present) Former: Grand Prix motorcycle racing Swedish motorcycle Grand Prix (1978–1979) Sidecar World Championship (1979, 2006) GT4 Scandinavia (2019–2022) STCC (1996–2011, 2013, 2015–2022) TTA – Racing Elite League (2012) European F2 (1973–1974) European F3 (1978) ETCC (1964–1966) |
| Website | gellerasen |
| Full Circuit (2017–present) | |
| Length | 2.350 km (1.460 miles) |
| Turns | 11 |
| Race lap record | 1:03.546 ( Hampus Ericsson, Porsche 911 (992) GT3 Cup, 2023, Carrera Cup) |
| Full Circuit (2006–2016) | |
| Length | 2.400 km (1.491 miles) |
| Turns | 11 |
| Race lap record | 1:01.841 ( Daniel Roos, Tatuus FR2000, 2009, FR 2.0) |
| Full Circuit (1992–2005) | |
| Length | 2.530 km (1.572 miles) |
| Turns | 11 |
| Race lap record | 1:03.634 ( Frank Kechele, Tatuus FR2000, 2004, FR 2.0) |
| Full Circuit (1958–1991) | |
| Length | 3.000 km (1.864 miles) |
| Turns | 11 |
| Race lap record | 1:12.100 ( Patrick Depailler, March 742, 1974, F2) |
| Full Circuit (1953–1957) | |
| Length | 2.000 km (1.243 miles) |
| Turns | 10 |
| Original Circuit (1950–1952) | |
| Length | 1.600 km (0.994 miles) |
| Turns | 9 |
It is currently authorised for European Championship rounds of road racing and Swedish Touring Car Championship events.[1]
History
Built in 1949 as a 1.55 km (0.96 mi) dirt track, the inaugural race was the first Kanonloppet on 4 June 1950.[2][3]For the second Kanonloppet in 1952, the surface had been paved with asphalt and the length was 1.600 km (0.994 mi).[3]It was extended to 2.000 km (1.243 mi) in 1953 with the addition of the Björkdungskurvan section (later renamed to Tröskurvan).[2][4]In 1958 it was additionally extended to 3.172 km (1.971 mi) with the Velodromkurvan section (Velodrome bend).[5][2][6]
In 1961, 1962 and 1963 non-championship Formula One events were hosted here, which saw the likes of Stirling Moss, Jim Clark and Jack Brabham battle it out on-track. 1967 a race called Swedish Grand Prix was held there, won by Jackie Stewart. In 1979, the circuit hosted the Swedish motorcycle Grand Prix won by Barry Sheene.
The circuit was forced to close for two years after a crash on 8 August 1970 during a touring car event.Two cars, a Ford Escort and a BMW 2002, locked together at the flat out right hander before the straight leading up to the Velodromkurvan, and went off the track at high speed, bounced over the banking and into the crowd, killing five spectators.[5]
After a period of decay, the track went through major renovation work during the 1990s and 2000s. In 1992, the track length was shortened to 2.530 km (1.572 mi).[2][7]
The pit area was moved and the facilities were improved. There was also several safety improvements, including a redesign of the Tröskurvan and the complete removal of the velodrome section.This shortened the track to its current length of 2.400 km (1.491 mi).[8][2][9] In 2017, the last corner was modified and the track length was shortened to 2.350 km (1.460 mi).[2][10]
Photo from the track
Lap records
As of August 2023, the fastest official race lap records at the Karlskoga Motorstadion are listed as: