Kinnekulle Ring
Kinnekulle Ring at a glance
- Location
- Götene, Västra Götaland County
- Type
- road course
- Length
- 2.072 km (1.287 mi)
- Turns
- 8
- Direction
- clockwise
- Surface
- asphalt
- Opened
- 1969
- Address
- Kinnekulle
- Website
- kinnekulle-ring.se
Track map and layout
Kinnekulle Ring sits near the town of Götene in Västra Götaland County, close to Lake Vänern in western Sweden. Opened on 10 August 1969, the circuit is unusual for having almost no genuine straights: its 2.072 km, 8-turn lap is essentially a continuous sequence of corners, demanding constant car placement and rhythm rather than offering any single long braking or acceleration zone. That corner-heavy character has made it a distinctive and technically demanding circuit relative to its short length, popular for amateur, club and rallycross racing.
Configurations
| Layout | Length | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Full circuit | 2.07 km | 2.072 km, 8 turns, in use since 1969 |
Events and race weekends
Kinnekulle Ring has hosted a surprising run of international motorsport for a circuit of its size, including the European Formula Two Championship in 1973 (with Jochen Mass setting the lap record), the European Formula Three Championship in 1979, and the European Rallycross Championship on several occasions (1983, 1992, 1996). It also hosted the Swedish Touring Car Championship in 1996-1997 and the Norwegian Touring Car Championship in 2002, and continues to host national series including the Nordic 4 Championship, alongside club racing and rallycross.
| Event | Series | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nordic 4 Championship round | Nordic 4 | varies | hosted in recent seasons including 2019 |
Getting there and parking
The circuit sits at Kinnekulle near Götene, close to the eastern shore of Lake Vänern in western Sweden. Most visitors drive; there is no rail station directly at the circuit, though Götene and nearby Lidköping have limited regional bus connections, making a rental car the practical way in.
- Skövde Airport (KVB) · about 40 min drive
- Gothenburg Landvetter Airport (GOT) · about 90 min drive
Parking
On-site parking is available for event days; pricing is set by the event promoter.
Lidköping is the best base for a wider choice of hotels within a short drive of the circuit.
Hotels and camping near Kinnekulle Ring
Lidköping, about 25 km away on Lake Vänern, offers the closest wider range of hotels and is the practical base for most visitors. Skövde, a similar distance in the other direction, is a useful alternative with good rail links on the Stockholm-Gothenburg main line.
Where to look
Lidköping for lakeside hotels and proximity; Skövde for rail connections and an alternative base.
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
Kinnekulle Ring is used regularly for club racing, driver training, license courses, safety training, corporate events and rallycross alongside its national and occasional international race weekends. Track access for cars and bikes outside race meetings is generally arranged through the circuit or visiting club organisers.
Who runs days here
Lap records
| Category | Time | Driver | Car | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Formula 3 | 0:47.410 | Niclas Jönsson | Reynard 903 | 1990 |
Spectator guide
The continuous, corner-heavy layout keeps cars visible from most vantage points around the circuit, giving spectators an involving view of car placement and racing lines throughout the lap.
Seating
Grandstand seating is limited and concentrated near the start-finish area; much of the lap is viewed from grass banking.
Best places to watch
High ground overlooking the sequence of corners gives the best overview of the circuit's flowing, straight-free layout.
Weather
- May-September (main season): typical western Swedish summer, highs around 16-22°C
History of Kinnekulle Ring
A corner-heavy circuit by Lake Vänern
Kinnekulle Ring opened on 10 August 1969 near the town of Götene in Västra Götaland County, close to the eastern shore of Lake Vänern. From the outset its defining feature was the near-total absence of straights: the 2.072 km, 8-turn lap strings corners together almost continuously, a layout that rewards smoothness and precision over outright power and has made it a distinctive test for drivers used to more conventional circuits.
Punching above its size internationally
Despite its compact scale, Kinnekulle Ring attracted a run of significant international motorsport through the 1970s, 80s and 90s. The European Formula Two Championship visited in 1973, with Jochen Mass setting the circuit's F2 lap record, and the European Formula Three Championship followed in 1979. The circuit also became a regular host of the European Rallycross Championship, staging rounds in 1983, 1992 and 1996, and welcomed the Swedish Touring Car Championship in 1996-1997 and the Norwegian Touring Car Championship in 2002.
A working national circuit today
In the modern era, Kinnekulle Ring has settled into a role as a busy national and club circuit, hosting series such as the Nordic 4 Championship alongside amateur car and motorcycle racing, rallycross, license courses, safety training and corporate driving events. Its accessible location near Lake Vänern and long history of hosting both grassroots and top-level racing have kept it an active fixture of the western Swedish motorsport calendar.
Frequently asked questions
How long is Kinnekulle Ring?+
The circuit is 2.072 km (1.287 miles) long with 8 turns, notable for having almost no straights along its lap.
Why is Kinnekulle Ring considered unusual?+
Its layout strings corners together almost continuously with no genuine straight, making it a technically demanding circuit for its short length.
Has Kinnekulle Ring hosted international racing?+
Yes. It hosted the European Formula Two Championship in 1973, European Formula Three in 1979, and the European Rallycross Championship in 1983, 1992 and 1996, among other international events.
Can the public drive Kinnekulle Ring?+
Yes. The circuit hosts club racing, driver training, license courses and corporate driving events alongside its national race weekends.
Where do visitors stay near Kinnekulle Ring?+
Lidköping, about 25 km away on Lake Vänern, offers the closest wider range of hotels; Skövde is a useful alternative with good rail links.
Other tracks nearby
- Skövde Circuit · 35 km · historic circuit (defunct)
- Glimminge Motorstadion · 84 km · motocross
- Mantorp Park · 111 km · road course
- Gelleråsen Arena (Karlskoga Motorstadion) · 113 km · road course
- Anderstorp Raceway (Scandinavian Raceway) · 143 km · road course
- Rudskogen Motorsenter · 153 km · road course
Facts checked against 3 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-11.