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aeroix Flickr
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Fjölnir Araelsson
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Fjölnir Araelsson
Words by Andrew Blackwood
An established sport with over 50 years of history, Icelandic Formula Offroad is no longer the best-kept secret in the world of motorsports as online streaming video and social media posts are bringing footage to everyone. What began as a friendly contest among enthusiasts in 1965 quickly expanded across the small island nation. Over the years it evolved into an international sensation. Since first leaving the shores of Iceland in 1990, Icelandic Formula Offroad arrived in North America in 2016 and continues to captivate audiences.
Imagine a child driving a toy truck vertically up cliffs, leaping through the air, plowing through the mud, and skipping across puddles. Now imagine doing that in a 1700 kg, 1600 hp monster tackling impossible hills and skimming across 300 metres of water. That’s just where Gestur J Ingolfsson finds himself when piloting his machine named Draumurinn – Icelandic for “The Dream”. As a boy Gestur passionately watched the Torfæra races (translates as “chaos”). He dreamed of one day having his own torfærubíllinn (chaos car). He spent many years crewing for other teams until December 2011 when he purchased Draumurinn. Gestur is just one of dozens piloting these machines over, across or through any obstacle in their path.
Three distinct classes offer something for everyone. The street-driven class can be seen scaling the hills with license tags and blinking taillights. The modified class requires the machine to maintain the production style body. Then the unlimited class – the serious machines seen clawing their way towards the sky - without limits. There’s no running start to the hill climbs, and all tracks have several gates the driver must navigate. It’s designed like downhill slalom skiing - but uphill. Drivers earn points for going through gates, and lose points for striking gates, reversing or stopping.
Official races this year will be held in Iceland, Norway, Sweden and the USA. Competitors and spectators travel from Iceland, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway and across North America. When asked about the growing popularity across North America, Gestur believes social media and access to great manufacturers are guiding this expansion. Team Draumurinn recently topped 10,000 followers on Facebook, while sponsors like RCV Performance, Nitrous Express and Reid Racing keep “The Dream” alive.
2018 race dates began May 12th across Northern Europe and will continue through September. Then more than a dozen teams will pack into containers and cross the ocean for the 3rd time to bring Icelandic Formula Offroad to the USA in Dyersburg, Tennessee Oct 4-7 with eyes on expanding North America events. If you know of a suitable location with soft terrain, huge hills and a good size pond, please get in contact!
Live coverage from the races via Facebook feed: www.facebook.com/teamdraumurinn
Highlights will air on Icelandic show MotorHaus and be available online after editing https://www.facebook.com/motorhaustv/
Find Team Draumurinn online at www.teamdraumurinn.is. Follow on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter @teamdraumurinn. To learn more about Icelandic Formula Offroad visit www.foiceland.com, www.formulaoffroadnews.nu. For specific questions or to find out how to get involved contact andrew@teamdraumurinn.com.