Höljesbanan
"The Home of Swedish Rallycross" | |
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Location | Höljes, Värmland, Sweden |
Time zone | UTC+1 |
Coordinates | 60°55′01″N 12°33′18″E / 60.917°N 12.555°E |
Capacity | Unlimited (Record: 45 100) |
FIA Grade | 6R (Rallycross) |
Operator | Finnskoga Motorklubb |
Opened | 1976 |
Major events | Euro RX of Sweden (1991, 1993, 1997, 1999–present) World RX of Sweden (2014–present) |
Surface | Asphalt (60%) Gravel (40%) |
Length | 1.19 km (0.73 mi) |
Höljesbanan, also known as Höljes Motorstadion, is a rallycross circuit situated in the village of Höljes, in the Finnskogen ('Finnwoods') of the Swedish county Värmland, beside the river Klarälven and close to the Norwegian border. The circuit opened in February 1976 and is one of the most famous rallycross circuits in the world. Traditionally held over the first weekend of July the venue plays host to the so-called 'Magic Weekend' of rallycross when it runs the Swedish round of the European and World Rallycross championships.
History[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/38/Mattias_Ekstr%C3%B6m_%28Audi_S1_EKS_RX_quattro%29_%2827943524302%29.jpg/220px-Mattias_Ekstr%C3%B6m_%28Audi_S1_EKS_RX_quattro%29_%2827943524302%29.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d1/Anton_Marklund_%28Audi_S1_EKS_RX_quattro%29_%2819232648609%29.jpg/220px-Anton_Marklund_%28Audi_S1_EKS_RX_quattro%29_%2819232648609%29.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Toomas_Heikkinen_%28Audi_S1_EKS_RX_quattro%29_%2827762411700%29.jpg/220px-Toomas_Heikkinen_%28Audi_S1_EKS_RX_quattro%29_%2827762411700%29.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/EKS_H%C3%B6ljes-_New_S1_meets_old_%2819397258042%29.jpg/220px-EKS_H%C3%B6ljes-_New_S1_meets_old_%2819397258042%29.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e9/WillGollopWinningH%C3%B6ljesIn1991.jpg/220px-WillGollopWinningH%C3%B6ljesIn1991.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/48/Mattias_Ekstr%C3%B6m_%28Audi_S1_EKS_RX_quattro%29_%2827783149840%29.jpg/220px-Mattias_Ekstr%C3%B6m_%28Audi_S1_EKS_RX_quattro%29_%2827783149840%29.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/54/Anton_Marklund_%28Audi_S1_EKS_RX_quattro%29_%2819412561522%29.jpg/220px-Anton_Marklund_%28Audi_S1_EKS_RX_quattro%29_%2819412561522%29.jpg)
The circuit was originally part of a go-kart centre opened in 1972 by the Finnskoga Motorklubb following the influx of Swedish drivers into Formula One, but quickly fell into disuse and it was decided the nearby gravel pit was to be turned into a rallycross circuit in October 1974. On February 1, 1976, the circuit held its first event in front of 3,500 people on a bitterly cold winters' day, and was won by Per Eklund.[1]
The circuit was successful locally and the Finnskoga Masters was created as a marquee event for Scandinavian drivers. The circuit saw very little national action as the Swedish ASN were not on good terms with the Finnskoga Motorklubb, and despite having a suitable venue the Svenska Bilsportförbundet (SBF) did not straight away recommend the circuits' addition to the FIA European Rallycross Championship due to the conflict. However, the circuit did eventually make its international debut for the Swedish round of the 1991 European Rallycross Championship. The event was held on July 7 in front of 15,000 people and quickly gained approval from drivers and fans alike. The Swedish round rotated through various circuits in the 1990s but the Höljesbanan became a permanent fixture in 1999 and is now a marquee event within it and the newly formed World Championship.[2]
Event history[]
European rallycross[]
European Championship winners[3] | |||
---|---|---|---|
Year | Division | Driver | Car |
1991 | Division 1 | ![]() |
Ford Sierra RS 500 Cosworth |
Division 2 | ![]() |
MG Metro 6R4 BiTurbo | |
1992 | Not Held | ||
1993 | Division 1 | ![]() |
Nissan Sunny GTI-R |
Division 2 | ![]() |
Citroën ZX T16 4x4 | |
1400cc Cup | ![]() |
Citroën AX Sport | |
1994 | Not Held | ||
1995 | |||
1996 | |||
1997 | Division 1 | ![]() |
Ford Escort RS 2000 T16 4x4 |
Division 2 | ![]() |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution III | |
1400cc Cup | ![]() |
Peugeot 205 Rallye | |
1998 | Not Held | ||
1999 | Division 1 | ![]() |
Ford Escort RS 2000 T16 4x4 |
Division 2 | ![]() |
Peugeot 306 S16 | |
1400cc Cup | ![]() |
Rover Metro GTi | |
2000 | Division 1 | ![]() |
Citroën Xsara WRC |
Division 2 | ![]() |
Citroën Xsara VTS | |
1400cc Cup | ![]() |
Citroën AX GTi | |
2001 | Division 1 | ![]() |
Citroën Xsara WRC |
Division 2 | ![]() |
Citroën Xsara VTS | |
Division 2A | ![]() |
Citroën AX GTi | |
2002 | Division 1 | ![]() |
Citroën Xsara WRC |
Division 2 | ![]() |
Honda Civic Type R | |
Division 2A | ![]() |
Volkswagen Polo 1.4 16V | |
2003 | Division 1 | ![]() |
Citroën Xsara T16 4x4 |
Division 1A | ![]() |
Peugeot 206 | |
Division 2 | ![]() |
Opel Astra OPC | |
2004 | Division 1 | ![]() |
Ford Focus T16 4x4 |
Division 1A | ![]() |
SEAT Ibiza | |
Division 2 | ![]() |
Renault Clio RSR | |
2005 | Division 1 | ![]() |
Ford Focus T16 4x4 |
Division 1A | ![]() |
Škoda Fabia | |
Division 2 | ![]() |
Honda Civic Type R | |
2006 | Division 1 | ![]() |
Ford Focus T16 4x4 |
Division 1A | ![]() |
Peugeot 206 | |
Division 2 | ![]() |
Honda Civic Type R | |
2007 | Division 1 | ![]() |
Škoda Fabia 6Y T16 4x4 |
Division 1A | ![]() |
Opel Corsa C | |
Division 2 | ![]() |
Honda Civic Type R | |
RX Cup | ![]() |
Ford Fiesta RWD | |
2008 | Division 1 | ![]() |
Ford Fiesta ST |
Division 1A | ![]() |
Renault Clio | |
Division 2 | ![]() |
Honda Civic Type R | |
RX Cup | ![]() |
Citroën Xsara RWD | |
2009 | Division 1 | ![]() |
Renault Clio T16 4x4 |
Division 1A | ![]() |
Renault Clio Mk2 | |
Division 2 | ![]() |
Ford Fiesta ST RWD | |
2010 | Division 1 | ![]() |
Ford Focus ST |
Division 1A | ![]() |
Renault Clio Mk2 | |
Division 2 | ![]() |
Ford Fiesta ST RWD | |
2011 | Supercars | ![]() |
Ford Fiesta T16 4x4 |
Super1600 | ![]() |
Volkswagen Polo 9N3 | |
TouringCar | ![]() |
Ford Fiesta ST RWD | |
2012 | Supercars | ![]() |
Citroën DS3 T16 4x4 |
Super1600 | ![]() |
Peugeot 207 | |
TouringCar | ![]() |
Škoda Fabia 6Y RWD | |
Junior Cup | ![]() |
"Citroën DS3" JRX | |
2013 | Supercars | ![]() |
Citroën DS3 |
Super1600 | ![]() |
Peugeot 207 | |
TouringCar | ![]() |
Ford Fiesta RWD | |
Junior Cup | ![]() |
"Citroën DS3" JRX | |
2014 | Super1600 | ![]() |
Škoda Fabia 5J |
TouringCar | ![]() |
Mazda RX-8 | |
2015 | Super1600 | ![]() |
Renault Twingo Mk2 |
TouringCar | ![]() |
Citroën DS3 RWD | |
2016 | Supercars | ![]() |
Peugeot 208 |
Super1600 | ![]() |
Peugeot 208 | |
TouringCar | ![]() |
Ford Fiesta ST RWD | |
2017 | Supercar | ![]() |
Volkswagen Polo R Mk5 |
Super1600 | ![]() |
Škoda Fabia |
World rallycross[]
Year | Division | Driver | Car |
---|---|---|---|
2014 | Supercars | ![]() |
Audi S1 |
2015 | Supercars | ![]() |
Audi S1 |
2016 | Supercars | ![]() |
Ford Focus RS |
RX Lites | ![]() |
"Ford Fiesta" RX2 | |
2017 | Supercars | ![]() |
Volkswagen Polo GTI |
RX2 | ![]() |
"Ford Fiesta" RX2 |
References[]
- ^ "History (in Swedish)". Finnskoga Motorklubb. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
- ^ "Photos (in Swedish)". Finnskoga Motorklubb. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
- ^ "ERX Event Winners". rallycross.com. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Höljes Motorstadion. |
- Motorsport venues in Sweden
- World Rallycross circuits