SWEDISH E-KART CHAMPIONSHIP MAKES HISTORY AT THE KANONLOPPET
The second edition of the Swedish E-Kart Championship, featuring the Rotax E20 electric karts, has made its way into the history books at Gelleråsen Arena near the city of Karlskoga. The winner of the 2024 national title was Junior Jonsson in the Senior category, while Jonatan Morin took the honours in the Masters. Both the winners were awarded with their tickets to join Team Sweden at the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals taking place in Sarno, Italy this October 19-26.
For the very first time, the national karting championship was included on the race program at the famous annual Kanonloppet ‘cannon race’ at Karlskoga together with the traditional motorsport classes. These included the Porsche Carrera Cup and Sprint Challenge Scandinavia as part of the Swedish Championship, V8 Thundercars, Valeryds Legends Cup and Pro Superbikes. There were a host of fun activities for the fans that saw a special air show with JAS and acrobatics, Drifting, Ferry Swan Timber Sports, car, and bike simulators, etc. With around 8,000 people in attendance, the event was a great success, and the racing was exciting to the flag.
Following the inauguration of the Gelleråsen Arena Karting circuit within the layout of the big track last year, where Prince Carl Philip of Sweden drove the Rotax E20 at the official ceremony, the venue has also hosted the ‘Prince Carl Philip’s Racing Trophy’ young talent initiative at the Swedish RMC. The support of the royal, who competes in the Porsche series, has helped bring this unique event to reality. The prince was on track in the Rotax E-Kart last weekend with all the competitors for several practice sessions, claiming he could not resist the opportunity to drive the E-Kart again in Sweden.
A total of 18 drivers competed in the Swedish Championship on August 15-17, some of which had also participated in the first edition at GTR Motorpark, Eskilstuna. In the close competition for the title, there were a number of drivers who had equal chance to take the victory in the Rotax E20 with the popular ‘Arrive & Drive’ concept. Making a return to karting this season after a break of almost a decade, 31-year-old Jonatan Morin set the pace in qualifying with a 53.381 following the five training sessions at the Gelleråsen venue and was additionally the leading Masters entry Friday. Next fastest on the timing screen was Julius Ljungdahl with the best lap in the Senior classification.
Heat 1 that afternoon was won by Rotax racer Pierre Runic, who now coaches newcomers in karting, taking advantage of the fight between the two leading drivers to win in convincing fashion. Swedish E-Kart vice champion from 2022, Ljungdahl, took the honours in the second heat Saturday morning in another absolute nail-biter, as the E20 field turned on some fabulous racing for the spectators. Romania’s Alexandru Boltasu made a brilliant move to lead on lap 5, momentarily stealing Junior Jonsson’s spotlight. The action didn’t stop there as Jonsson fought back, only to get a front fairing penalty post-race. In both heats, every lap was full of suspense to the finish as the positions changed constantly.
The tough battle for valuable points to determine the final grid was topped by Ljungdahl ahead of Morin and international competitor Boltasu. In the Superfinal, the experience of Morin showed as he controlled the race initially. However, it was short-lived as Ljungdahl swapped places to remain in P1 by half-race distance. Yet it was 17-year-old Jonsson on the move from row 4 who was exercising his knowledge of racing the Rotax E20 [in the UK at the RMC Euro Trophy last year] to perfection and kept the competition from beating him to the chequered flag. Runner-up was Ljungdahl then came Boltasu in P3. The first of the Masters was Morin, ranking fourth overall and placed third in the Swedish E-Kart Championship standings, while Runic rounded out the top 5 in the finale. Completing the Masters podium with Morin were Robert Karlsson in 2nd and Daniel Persson 3rd.
Junior Jonsson missed his chance to compete at the RMCGF in 2020 as the Swedish Rotax Junior MAX champion due to the event being cancelled as a result of the global pandemic. He was over the moon to have another chance to represent his country and feels confident going to Italy. Jonatan Morin has already been at the Grand Finals in Sarno, albeit supporting his youngest brother, so this will be his debut on the start grid at the season highlight in October. The two Swedes are aiming to repeat the success of the first Swedish E-Kart champions, Jesper Sjöberg and Joel Bergström, who went on to win the E-Kart titles in the E20 Senior and Junior titles respectively at the RMCGF 2022.
The prize-giving ceremony followed the Porsche Carrera Cup podium with fantastic prizes handed out on behalf of the organisation and partners at BRP-Rotax, PCPRP and Porsche. Prince Carl Philip presented the winners’ trophies, Mr. Roger Engstrom SBF (ASN) and Karlskoga Municipal Chairman Mr. Tony Ring the minor placing trophies and Ms. Marie Radne, Radne/Rotax, the RMCGF tickets. To end the ceremony, Sanna Stromback awarded the Porsche watch to the champion Junior Jonsson. Every competitor received the special edition Gelleråsen Arena caps and Rotax E20 Boost T-Shirts.
Promoter Thomas Johansson summed up the historic Swedish E-Kart Championship event at the Kanonloppet 2024, “It was an exceptional event! A truly great atmosphere shared by thousands of spectators there to witness the tough competition between the Rotax E20 drivers for the Swedish title, together with all the other motorsport classes at Gelleråsen. This would not ever have been possible without the dedicated effort of Marie Radne, Authorised Distributor of Rotax Kart Products in Sweden, and all the organisation team members behind this amazing weekend. We have to thank our valued partners at BRP-Rotax and their team trackside who worked to support the competitors and ensure their success at the event.”
To read more about the Kanonloppet 2024 – visit www.gellerasen.se
