until Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League
Indianapolis 500 winner Marcus Ericsson will race in Sweden for the first time since he was 16 in October, and will also compete against his younger brother Hampus for the first time as he appears in the Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia championship finale.
Ex-Formula 1 driver Ericsson received widespread recognition for his Indy 500 win in Sweden earlier this season and is only 12 points off the IndyCar championship lead with two races remaining over the next two weekends, starting with Portland this weekend where he’ll race in the same PNC Bank livery as Chip Ganassi team-mate and title rival Scott Dixon.
Ericsson left Sweden immediately after the conclusion of his karting career to race Formula BMW in the UK, so while he visits his home country occasionally, the October 1 races at Mantorp Park will be his proper racing return and his first competitive outing in a GT car.
“2022 has been the most successful year in my racing career,“ said Ericsson.
“It’s great fun to be able to end this incredible season, with the victory in the Indy 500, in front of a Swedish audience at home and as a guest driver in the series finale.
“It’s a great opportunity for me to thank all the fans for the incredible support that I have received.
“Of course I hope to keep up in terms of speed, especially as I get the chance to drive against my little brother Hampus.
“I follow the championship and know that the level of the starting field is high so it will be tough.
“This is my first race in a GT car and there is a lot to learn. The car has less downforce than an IndyCar, it is heavier and is rear-engined. It will be exciting for sure.”
The series has garnered a reputation for attracting leftfield entries including Ericsson’s fellow Swedish IndyCar convert Felix Rosenqvist, F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve and F1 hopeful Dennis Hauger.
Raine Wermelin, director of Porsche Sweden, said: “To have the reigning champion from the Indy 500 in the starting field during the season finale of the Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia is of course completely unique.
“This will be a fantastic chance for everyone who loves racing to see Marcus Ericsson in the form of his life competing during the series finale.
“That Marcus chooses to drive with us is honourable and we send a big thank you to Chip Ganassi Racing who make this exotic guest appearance possible.”
Racing in a Porsche Carrera Cup appears popular at the moment, with four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon coming out of an almost six-year retirement to race in the North America version of the series at Indianapolis this weekend.
