It doesn’t matter which Gatebil event you attend, walking through the paddock always turns up cars with interesting stories to tell.
At Gatebil’s 2024 Main Event held at Rudskogen Motorsenter in Norway, the paddock did not disappoint.
There are several reasons why a Gatebil paddock is so special, one being the remarkable variety of cars.
Walking through this automotive maze, you’ll encounter everything from heavily modified street cars…
…to custom-built, high-performance race cars, like Kai Roger Bakken’s Gatebil-iconic Lotus Esprit.
Another special aspect is the paddock’s unrestricted access. Gatebil visitors can meet and interact with drivers and their teams, making it a social gathering spot where car enthusiasts of all levels can share their passion.
It’s not every day you can get up close and personal with Formula Drift Pro-spec drift cars like Ola Jaeger’s MkIV Toyota Supra.
Regardless of your automotive expertise, the Gatebil paddock is both inclusive and highly educational. I don’t say this to be inspirational, but rather because I can spend hours talking to drivers, asking how they accomplish driving certain feats. This often occurs when examining what’s under the hood of these remarkable cars.
If Scandinavians are good at one thing, it’s putting engines in places you wouldn’t expect to find them Of all the engine swaps, the Toyota 2JZ is the most common, which has a lot to do with accessibility and cost. It’s not the newest swap trend, but many of these builds will grab and hold your attention.
Have you ever seen a 2JZ-swapped Hyundai Veloster? This was a first for me.
If the 2JZ swap is too mainstream for you, how about a 500hp Nissan VQ35HR-swapped BMW E36?
Or perhaps a Nissan 180SX with a turbocharged Mercedes-Benz M104 diesel engine is more your vibe?
It’s always exciting to see ideas that you wouldn’t think would work, do exactly that.
If you’re not a fan of cross-manufacturer engine swaps, Gatebil always has a good selection of car builds that stay loyal to their brand roots.
Insane V8-powered time attack Chevrolet Corvettes are a thing in Scandinavia, too.
Does anyone recognize this? Sometimes you get a chance to meet a hero from the past, that you might have only read about. That’s how it was for me with this twin-engined Toyota Starlet, which a decade on is still a Gatebil standout.
Another classic feature car still making waves is Kjell Frykås’s Ford Anglia. Its original retro-fitted Volvo B230 four-cylinder engine has been replaced with a Ford Cosworth engine, and new body components have been added. The rebuilt Anglia debuted its new motor last year and has emerged as a top contender in the hotly-contested Gatebil Extreme series.
Whether it’s a new build or an existing one that continues to evolve, there is always something to discover in the Gatebil paddock.
That’s it for my event coverage from the 2024 Gatebil Main Event, but stay tuned for several car features shot at Mantorp Park and Rudskogen Motorsenter over the summer season.
Alen Haseta
Instagram: hazetaa
The 2024 Gatebil Main Event on Speedhunters
