Grande Finale on Mantorp Park
Driving on a highway is always a very boring process, and the E4, which heads from Stockholm south, is no different. But this time, I noticed some interesting things happening there. As I was passing Linköping and getting closer to Mantorp, I noticed more and more Porsche cars heading in the same direction as me. Was it a coincidence? Definitely not. Our destination was the Grande Finale event on Mantorp Park racetrack.
Five racing series were competing in their respective last races of the season. Two of them comprised Porsches. But does it explain the huge number of Stuttgart-made cars? Not exactly. There was one more reason. Porsche Club Sverige was celebrating the 50th anniversary of the introduction of Turbo in the 911 model. The brand enthusiasts created amazing rows of cars. Sorry, but I had no idea how to show the number of vehicles on a photograph without a drone. You must believe me. It was stunning!
But let’s leave the parking and head to the track, where the main part of the event took place. The first cars to enter the track belonged to the Agile class, which is mostly dedicated to young drivers developing their race craft.
The next ones to entertain the audience were the V8 Thunder Cars. At first glance, one may think that the class comprises modified Mustangs, Camaros and AMGs. However, at second glance, the cars start to look suspiciously alike. There is a reason for that. They are all the same, based on a space frame built in the USA, and all are powered by the same GM-built V8. Unification of cars and parts reduces the costs of participation and makes the class more affordable and popular.
What car can be more different from a V8 thunder car than the cars competing in the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship? The STCC is the world’s first touring car championship that went fully electric. Should we be very sad about it? Not really. The lack of typical engine roar is noticeable. But let’s look at the positives! Thanks to it, one can better hear other racing-related noises, like cracking bumpers and bent fenders. Yes, STCC drivers know how to make a show and… how to wreck their cars.
Before the event, I did a little research and watched some previous races. I had one conclusion: there is no STCC start without a crash! Two races, performed by the EV group, proved this right. Unfortunately, due to my mistake, I was on the wrong part of the track when the green light was lit for the first race. A loud “ojojoj” coming from the event commentators meant that something had happened. Only after the race, I saw a heavily damaged green Tesla. The coverage of the accident is available on STCC Instagram, and I can tell you that it was a big one.
But as soon as the car was transported back to the paddock, a very quick rebuild process began. Hammers and many rolls of duct tape were used to get the car almost back to factory specification. There’s no need to mention that the car was ready for the second race of the day. And can you guess if this race also began with a crash? Fortunately, this time I was waiting with my camera at the right corner.
Let’s leave the silent EVs and hear some roar of flat 6-cylinder engines. Two racing series dedicated to Porsches were competing during the Grande Finale: Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia and Porsche Sprint Challenge Scandinavia. The first one is the official Carrera Cup Championship branch in Scandinavia. Only one model is allowed to be raced here, the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (992). Besides the regular drivers, the race on Mantorp Park featured a guest driver: world-famous Swedish driver Mattias Ekström. I recognize him from his starts in the Dakar rally.
The Porsche Sprint Challenge is supposed to be a cheaper alternative for young talents. This series sports Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (991 II) and Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS cars. The last race and the whole championship were won by young and talented Norwegian driver Isabell Rustad.
In my coverage of the Drag Festival, I wrote about how much I enjoy the behind-the-scenes action. The mechanics have a lot of work to do, and it's fascinating to watch them in action. After writing that piece, I reflected on the fact that this might be the case at every racing event. However, my visit to the Grand Finale proved me right in a way. At the Grand Finale, there was very little going on backstage. The cars were incredibly reliable, and the mechanics were mainly conducting quick inspections and fixing minor damage from small on-track collisions.
It was thrilling to hear the roaring V8 engines, watch the intense battles between the Porsches, and discover that electric car races can also bring a lot of excitement. The atmosphere was electric, and it was fascinating to see how both traditional and modern technologies can deliver such thrilling racing experiences.
