The Gotland Grand National will remain on Gotland after local government board says yes to the world’s largest enduro building new track in Hejdeby.

Since the Swedish Army said no to a continuation of the world’s largest enduro competition, the Gotland Grand National, after 40 years at Tofta Shooting Range the organisers have had to work very hard to find a new venue.

Gotland is part of the Swedish enduro calendar like Husqvarnas are part of any Scandinavian paddock and it has not been easy to re-home the epic race which plays host to almost three and a half thousand riders across the weekend.

Albin Elowson won the event in 2023 ahead of EnduroGP World Champion Steve Holcombe and Hamish Macdonald.

Various options were on the table for GGN 2.0, including moving the event to the mainland. But the island in the Baltic Sea is the spiritual home and it was here the Nordic Sport and Events team were focused on.

After over 100 meetings, consultations, consultation rounds and large investments of time and money, the organiser of the Gotland Grand National has now received a “yes” from the County Board of Gotland.

The new location is close to the Gotland capital of Visby in the area of Hejdeby, and a former quarry which will bring a new dimension to the race which ran for so many years on the same battered, limestone bedrock course on the military shooting range at Tofta.

The new venue is still pretty big, has an approximate 30 minute lap still planned and with mixed terrain of sand in places and mud in the trees. 

“We are ready with our suppliers and forestry contractors who will build the future GGN track in Hejdeby, which will be something very special for participants, the audience and of course the TV viewers,” says Conny Bohlin of Nordic Sport and Events.

“After over 11 months of work with successes and setbacks, it now feels extremely exciting to soon be able to start the real work on the future GGN track and arena.”

The investment is huge from the organisers and, with so many riders annually, it is massive boost to the local economy. A regular five million invested annually in the event they say, with around two million to build the arenas and new track in Hejdeby.

Part of the equation, as ever with off-road events, is the impact on the environment and organisers say GGN 2.0 has a planned course and arenas that take into account the water protection area, alvar lands, wetlands, river crayfish, nymphs, Apollo butterflies and much more of the plant and animal life in the area.

“We would now like to start a long-term collaboration and project with a committed association in environmental issues to, together with them, inventory and

carry out further extended surveys in the area. Where we will invest money and time for many years to come to create biological diversity in the area around the track in Hejdeby.” Bohlin concludes.

So get your entries in! More information: www.gotlandgrandnational.se