Located in Anderstorp in southern Sweden, Anderstorp Raceway—originally known as Scandinavian Raceway—is one of the most unusual circuits to have hosted a Formula One World Championship Grand Prix. Built on marshland in the late 1960s, the track combines long straights with tight technical sections and even incorporates an aircraft runway.
The circuit became internationally famous in the 1970s when it hosted the Swedish Grand Prix, the only Formula One race ever held in the Nordic region. Its unique layout, which includes a pit lane positioned halfway around the lap and the long Flight Straight, made car setup particularly challenging and gave the track a character unlike any other on the Formula One calendar.
Anderstorp is also remembered as the site of two of Formula One’s most unusual race-winning cars: the six-wheeled Tyrrell P34 and the controversial Brabham “fan car.”
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Anderstorp
| First Grand Prix | 1973 Swedish Grand Prix |
| Number of Laps | 70 |
| Circuit Length | 4.018 km (1975–1977 F1 layout) |
| Race Distance | 281.260 km |
| Lap Record | 1:24.836 Niki Lauda (1978) |
Circuit
When was Anderstorp Raceway built?
Anderstorp Raceway opened on 16 June 1968 and was initially known as Scandinavian Raceway. The circuit was constructed on marshland near the town of Anderstorp and quickly became one of Scandinavia’s most important motorsport venues.
The track measures just over 4 kilometres and features eight corners, but its design makes it more complex than those numbers suggest. One of the most distinctive parts of the circuit is the Flight Straight, a long straight section that doubles as an aircraft runway. This feature gives the circuit a unique appearance and allows aircraft to use the facility when racing events are not taking place.
Another unusual aspect is the pit lane location, which sits roughly halfway around the lap rather than along the main start–finish straight. This layout is rare in international motorsport and contributed to the track’s distinctive character.
Several corners at Anderstorp feature slight banking, which, combined with the long straight and slower infield sections, forces teams to compromise when setting up their cars. High straight-line speed is essential on the straight runway, but stability and traction are crucial in the tighter sections.
Over the years, the circuit has undergone several modifications. The most significant change during the Formula One era came in 1975, when a chicane was added at the Norra corner to reduce speeds. Further adjustments were made before the 1978 Swedish Grand Prix, slightly altering the final section of the track and increasing the lap length to 4.031 kilometres.
In 1998, the circuit was modified again and returned to its current length of 4.025 kilometres.
When was the first Swedish Grand Prix at Anderstorp?
Anderstorp hosted the Swedish Grand Prix six times between 1973 and 1978, making it the only Nordic circuit ever to stage a Formula One World Championship race.
The first race took place in 1973, when Denny Hulme won for McLaren. The event quickly became one of the highlights of the Swedish sporting calendar, helped by the popularity of local drivers such as Ronnie Peterson and Gunnar Nilsson.
Two of Formula One’s most unusual technological experiments achieved their only victories at Anderstorp:
- In 1976, the Tyrrell P34, the famous six-wheeled Formula One car, scored its sole win when Jody Scheckter led teammate Patrick Depailler in a historic 1-2 finish.
- In 1978, Niki Lauda won driving the radical Brabham BT46B, known as the “fan car.” The car used a large fan to generate ground-effect suction and was withdrawn from competition shortly after the race.
Despite producing memorable moments, the Swedish Grand Prix disappeared after 1978. The deaths of Swedish drivers Ronnie Peterson and Gunnar Nilsson during that season led to declining national interest in the race, and Formula One did not return.
Anderstorp Raceway today
Although Formula One left the circuit after the 1970s, Anderstorp remained an important racing venue in Scandinavia. It has hosted a wide range of international championships, including the World Superbike, European Touring Car Championship, and FIA GT Championship.
The track also held the Swedish Motorcycle Grand Prix for many years and continues to host national and regional motorsport events, historic racing festivals, and touring car competitions.
Anderstorp Raceway lap record
The official Formula One race lap record at Anderstorp Raceway is 1:24.836, set by Niki Lauda in the Brabham BT46B during the 1978 Swedish Grand Prix.
For the earlier Formula One layout used at the first Swedish Grand Prix in 1973, the fastest race lap was 1:26.146, set by Denny Hulme in a McLaren M23.