Every story I’ve ever heard, every article I’ve ever written and every video I’ve ever seen about Gatebil gets me longing for more. I just can’t put into words how excited I am for Gatebil every single year.
Despite the festival’s format staying roughly the same for almost 29 years, there are more cars and more people attending Gatebil now in 2025 than ever. The question is, why?
One reason is Gatebil’s notoriety for pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with a car. If you have ever seen any crazy builds from Sweden, Norway or any other Scandinavian country for that matter, the chances are that you have seen it photographed at Gatebil.
That’s not to say international drivers aren’t welcome. Over the years Gatebil has seen loads of rookie drivers that have slowly but gradually become today’s stars in the drifting scene. Mad Mike, Fredric Aasbo and Vaugn Gittin Jr. just to name a few. They all had to start somewhere, right?
The cars they bring to Gatebil are mind blowing. This year’s event welcomed a fire breathing, rotary-powered C6 Chevrolet Corvette built by Alex Hildebrand into the mix. JDM mixed with USDM has never felt so right.
Blending motorsport and festival culture has always been the core of Gatebil’s character. Unlike most track events, Gatebil blends high adrenaline racing with music, camping and hardcore partying. Gatebil is well known for the craziness that goes around once the sun goes down…
… or when it’s supposed to, at least. Don’t forget, the sun never sets during a Scandinavian summer, and the partying never stops.
Gatebil has been one of the key drivers behind popularizing drifting in Scandinavia. The open track format and wild car setups have helped shape the aggressive,unfiltered style that Scandinavian drivers are known for globally. Ever heard of the Scandinavian Flick?
Events like Breisladden and Nordkampen (Fight of the North) have become fan and driver favorites, and both are reason enough to visit Gatebil.
Don’t even get me started on the time attack side of Gatebil, known as the Gatebil Extreme series. It’s where I’ve experienced some of the wildest cars I have ever laid my eyes upon; every car competing is an example of how diverse and inclusive this event really is.
I mean, when have you ever seen a 1500hp, 2JZ-powered BMW E30 M3 getting chased by a Cosworth-powered Ford Anglia, with a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup in close pursuit? You haven’t, have you? Well, you have now.
That’s where Gatebil shines the brightest. Whether you’re a driver, mechanic, photographer or a spectator, Gatebil welcomes everyone. The paddock and surrounding areas are where I spend most of my time at Gatebil. It’s weird, now that I think about it, considering how mental the track action is. You don’t have to have the fastest car or the most polished build, just a love for the culture.
That’s why Gatebil matters so much, and why it’s so popular. It keeps car culture real. The event celebrates creativity over conformity, passion over polish and community over competition.
To me, Gatebil stands as a wild, free and inspiring reminder of why all of us fell in love with cars in the first place, and it’s why I keep coming back.
