On September 5-7, the Gatebil season traditionally ends at Mantorp Park – but this year with an important innovation: the earlier date. With warmer weather, longer days and even better conditions for both driving and festival atmosphere, a weekend awaits that no motor enthusiast should miss.
One of the drivers on site is Simen Olsen from Norway. As an established driver in Formula Drift in the USA, he is used to competing at the highest level, and during the Gatebil Season Finale he now makes a long-awaited comeback on Swedish soil.
Simen will not only be seen during the free run where he will put on a show for the audience. He is also one of the drivers in this year’s Gatebil Drift Battle – a competition that brings together some of Scandinavia’s most hungry and experienced drifting drivers. New for this year is that Drift Battle will be held on Mantorp Park’s classic Paris loop, a section of the track that has long been in demand by both drivers and spectators.
Gatebil Drift Battle will be one of the highlights of the weekend! The combination of a maximum starting field, an upgraded track layout and the best weather forecasts of the fall create the conditions for a finish that will be something out of the ordinary.
As a warm-up for the Gatebil Season Finale and Gatebil Drift Battle, we ask Simen 3 quick questions:
You’re back at Mantorp Park to run the Gatebil Drift Battle – how does it feel to be here again and compete in front of the Swedish Gatebil crowd?
– I’m really looking forward to it! It’s been a few years since we last raced at Mantorp, so it will be fun to come back and compete against our Swedish friends and of course in front of a great Swedish audience!
This year’s race will be held on the classic Parisian circuit – what are your thoughts on that particular part of the track and what challenges await you there as a driver?
– I am very happy about that! I think it’s the best part of the track, high speed, lots of smoke, good flow and room for lots of spectators! The biggest challenge here is to hit the “timing” in the chase! If you miss a little here, it is very easy to get in the smoke and get blinded, or that you lose proximity and can not catch up with the lead car again. Here it becomes important to be on and stay focused!
The starting field in the Gatebil Drift Battle is really strong this year, with a mix of experienced drivers and hungry newcomers. How do you see the competition and what do you expect from the race?
– It’s going to be a battle! I know several of the drivers and how good they are, so this will not be an easy fight, but I promise that we will do everything we can to get the best result and not least make a good show for the audience! Anyway we are really looking forward to coming back to Mantorp Park!
Want to sit in the stands as the drivers take on the Gatebil Drift Battle?
Thursday afternoon is qualifying, where the top 32 drivers go through to elimination on Friday afternoon. Saturday evening we offer the Top 16 and the finals.
Join us as we finish the Gatebil season together at Mantorp Park, September 5 – 7! See you there!
