SWEDEN DELIVERS – THE GATEBIL SUMMER FESTIVAL WAS WORLD-CLASS

I just have to say: What a weekend Sweden had.

But the Gatebil Summer Festival isn’t just about one country. Over four intense days at Mantorp Park, drivers from all over Europe gathered to do what they do best—create magic both on and off the track.

Finland came back stronger than ever. Denmark showed a fighting spirit and team spirit that really left its mark. Drivers from Wales and England definitely hadn’t traveled all that way just to hold back. And Norway? Well, they did what Norway usually does at Gatebil—put on a show from the first minute to the last. No one is really surprised.

But one country that really stepped up during this year’s festival was Sweden.

Even though the loss in the Nordic Derby still stings a bit for the blue-and-yellow fans, we have to admit one thing:

Sweden delivered like never before.

National Butt-Sliding Championship

You’ve heard it before, but we’ll say it again: Gatebil isn’t just about cars. It’s also about prestige. Honor. And of course—the National Championship in Bumper Sliding. Maybe one of the weekend’s most important competitions?

The festival crowd delivered a level of speed, skill, and fluidity we’ve rarely seen before. The atmosphere was electric, the energy was sky-high—and in the end, it was Tim and Mats who emerged as this year’s champions.

A sequel in 2027? We say YES.

FOUR NATIONS. ONE TROPHY. A HISTORIC NORTHERN SHOWDOWN.

For the first time ever, the Nordic Showdown featured four nations on the starting line. Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland all entered with the same goal—to fight for their flag and prove who reigns supreme.

And what a game it turned out to be.

With a level of dedication and team spirit we’ve never seen before, both Finland and Denmark made their mark on the competition. Denmark faced defending champion Sweden in the first round, with the Swedes ultimately securing their spot in the final.

In the other match, Norway faced Finland—and Norway once again showed why they’re always a formidable opponent when it comes to drifting.

The final was set: Sweden versus Norway. A classic showdown in front of a packed Paris stadium. Two nations that refused to give up. But this time, it was Norway that reclaimed the throne.

Deserved? Yes. Øyvind Bogen could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Is Sweden in trouble? Yes, that too.

Breisladden

There are some nights you’ll never forget—and the Breisladden final at the Gatebil Summer Festival was definitely one of them.

In front of packed stands at Mantorp Park’s legendary Paris curve, the toughest drivers battled it out for one of Gatebil’s most prestigious titles. After a wild qualifying session, expectations were sky-high—but the final still managed to deliver even more.

The audience got exactly what Breisladden is all about: full-throttle action, extreme angles, smoke shows, and drivers who dare to push the limits.

One of the big talking points of the evening was Lwi Edwards from Wales, who did something few dare to attempt. Not once, but twice, he spun his car in a spectacular 360-degree drift in front of a raucous crowd at the Paris Bend.

History was also made when Nils Leijer showed up with Gatebil’s very first drifting limousine. In a car unlike anything anyone had seen before, he drove his way to an impressive sixth-place finish and proved once again that Breisladden is about more than just results—it’s about putting on a show.

But once the dust had settled, it was Petter Wåtland who emerged on top. With complete control, aggressive driving, and top-notch performance, Wåtland demonstrated why he was one of the weekend’s strongest drifters and secured victory at Breisladden 2026.

But Sweden came close to making history. Tony Averstedt was just a few points away from becoming the first Swedish driver to win the Breisladden at the Gatebil Summer Festival. With raw speed, aggressive driving, and full commitment, he showed that Sweden is definitely in the running for the Breisladden throne.

SWEDISH DOMINANCE IN EXTREME AND TIME ATTACK

But while Norway had reason to celebrate in the “Nordkampen,” Sweden made sure to show what they were capable of in other areas of the field.

In Gatebil Extreme and Time Attack, blue and yellow dominated the top spots—time and time again. Fredrik Wiborg had a near-perfect weekend, taking home first place in every race. Total domination? Yes, you could certainly say that.

And behind him? More Swedes. Karel Silha delivered an impressively consistent performance and secured all of the weekend’s second-place finishes.

But it didn’t stop there. Linus Holgersson really made his mark on the results sheets and headed home from Mantorp Park with several trophies in his luggage. New to Gatebil? Yes. New behind the wheel? Absolutely not. With his previous success in V8 Thunder Cars, Linus quickly showed that he belongs at Gatebil too—and we definitely hope to see him again soon.

Marcus Östlind from Insane Racing also reminded everyone why he should never be underestimated. With speed, experience, and total commitment, he posted several strong results throughout the weekend.

Time Attack

Extreme Race 3

Extreme Superstage

Street Car Showgarden

Gatebil is all about speed, drifting, and racing. But anyone who has been to Gatebil knows one thing: it’s also about the cars.

And once again, ARN Racing delivered a top-notch Showgarden. During the Gatebil Summer Festival, the area was filled with some of Scandinavia’s most impressive builds—everything from extreme race cars and stance cars to classics, unique projects, and cars where every single detail counts. The competition was fierce, the level was sky-high, and the judges definitely didn’t have an easy job.

But eventually, the winners had to be announced. Here are the results from Gatebil Showgarden:

A big congratulations to all the winners—and an even bigger thank you to everyone who helped create this year’s Showgarden.

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