FIA Winter Eco Rally Returns to Östersund
Östersund is proud to host the FIA Winter Eco Rally for the second consecutive year from January 25-27, 2024. This event is part of the international Bridgestone FIA ECO Rally Cup 2024 and is the only Nordic stop on the tour.
The rally features standard electric vehicles powered by 100% renewable wind and hydroelectric energy. Competitors drive on public roads, with ideal time and energy consumption being the key factors in determining the winner. About 30 cars will navigate through over 200 checkpoints, with rally stages to Gräftåvallen on January 26 and Gåxsjö on January 27, before returning to Stortorget in Östersund.
Sustainable Motorsport in Challenging Winter Conditions
The Bridgestone FIA ECO Rally Cup has been running for over a decade but was previously limited to Southern and Central Europe. Östersund provides an opportunity to test and showcase how zero-emission vehicles perform in tough winter environments.
Thomas Fuchs, Chairman of the local organizing committee, states: We received fantastic feedback on last year’s event from the motorsport federation, suppliers, and participants. We see great interest from car manufacturers to showcase their vehicles. Many are curious about the concept, and we see this as a step towards finding new, sustainable ways of organizing car rallies.
Aligning with Östersund’s Environmental Goals
Jessica Thylin, Event Manager at Destination Östersund, emphasizes the event’s importance: Östersund aims to be fossil-free and climate-neutral by 2030. At the same time, we want to continue being one of Sweden’s leading event cities, which means we need to rethink and innovate together. Winter Eco Rally is an example that aligns perfectly with this goal.
The rally showcases Östersund as a sustainable destination and event city.
Event Schedule
Friday, January 26
- 09:00 – Opening speech by County Governor Marita Ljung, Stortorget
- 09:30 – First start. Today’s stage goes to Gräftåvallen
- 15:50-17:00 – Finish at Stortorget
Saturday, January 27
- 08:30 – First start. Today’s stage goes to Gåxsjö
- 15:15-17:00 – Finish at Stortorget
- 18:00 – Award ceremony at Clarion Hotel Grand Östersund
For more information, contact:
- Thomas Fuchs, Chairman of the local organizing committee VMT Jämtland: 070-331 77 46
- Jessica Thylin, Event Manager Destination Östersund: 070-203 01 66
Source: Destination Östersund
