Umeå

Umeå, a city in northern Sweden, hosts diverse motorsport activities that attract racing enthusiasts from across Scandinavia. The city features a dedicated karting circuit, temporary rally stages for the World Rally Championship, and connects to the nearby Drivecenter Arena. These facilities provide year-round racing opportunities and contribute to the region's growing motorsport culture.

Umeå AK Karting Track (Alvik-Ring)

Umeå Automobilklubb operates a karting track known as the Alvik-Ring. The circuit measures 1.21 kilometers in length and serves as a training ground for local karting competitors. The facility hosts various karting events throughout the season, including rounds of the Norrlandscupen series. Standard karting infrastructure includes a pit area, spectator viewing zones, and club facilities. This track functions as a hub for karting enthusiasts in the Umeå region and provides accessible motorsport participation for drivers of all skill levels.

Rally Sweden Stages

Umeå became the host city for Rally Sweden in 2022. This World Rally Championship event represents the only winter rally on the WRC calendar. The organizers selected Umeå for its reliable deep snow and thick ice conditions, which are essential for world-class winter rally competition.

The rally uses temporary special stages built on existing forest roads and purpose-built spectator areas. These stages feature fast sections through snow-covered forests, sharp direction changes, hairpin turns, and 90-degree corners. The Red Barn Arena stands as the centerpiece of the event. This purpose-built spectator facility sits within the I20 military area and offers dramatic jumps that launch rally cars up to 40 meters through the air. The arena also includes high-speed straights and flowing corners where cars reach speeds up to 150 km/h.

The SS1 Umeå 1 stage covers 10.23 kilometers with 63 meters of elevation change. The Umeå Sprint stage ranges from 5.16 to 5.70 kilometers in length with 27 meters of elevation. All stages run entirely on snow and ice surfaces. Drivers use specialized studded tires that provide grip on these slippery conditions. A unique driving technique involves "leaning" cars against frozen snowbanks to maintain speed through corners.

The Service Park operates from the Nolia Exhibition and Sports arena in central Umeå. Rally teams prepare and repair their cars between stages at this location. The Red Barn Arena offers spectators extensive amenities including food courts, VIP zones, live entertainment, and accessible grandstands. The FIA Institute awarded Rally Sweden its "Achievement of Excellence" accreditation at the highest "Three Stars" level for environmental and climate work.

Drivecenter Arena

Drivecenter Arena, located near Skellefteå in Västerbotten County, serves the broader Umeå region. This facility opened on June 14, 2019, after conversion from the former Fällfors Air Base, a Cold War-era Swedish Air Force installation that closed in 2006. The circuit measures 4.235 kilometers in its full configuration, making it the longest racing circuit in Sweden and Scandinavia. Former Formula 1 driver Alexander Wurz led the design through TTI GmbH.

The full circuit includes 16 turns, while a shorter 3.370-kilometer configuration features 13 turns. The facility has hosted major events including STCC, Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia, GT4 Scandinavia, and Drift Masters European Championship. Spectator capacity exceeds 5,000 people, and the complex includes 24 pit garages, 96 hotel rooms, and a restaurant-conference center. The northern location allows the circuit to utilize 24-hour daylight during summer months.