A new gravel race with a whopping €22,000 prize payout sponsored by F1 Alfa Romeo race car driver and part time amateur gravel bike racer Valtterri Bottas will take place 10 June 2023 in Finland.

The no-vowels-needed FNLD GRVL race has Bottas partnering with event promoter SBT GRVL out of Colorado, USA to offer riders three gravel race options, all starting and finishing in Lahti one hour outside of Helsinki.

Taking place in The Land of The Midnight Sun, where nighttime is almost as bright as daytime in June, the main “Midnight Sun” course is a 177 kilometers long roller coaster ride through pristine forests and past crystal clear lakes on course euro gravel. Also available are 77 and 40 kilometers long routes.

Entry fees though are almost as expensive as an F1 race ticket…€200, €150 and €100 respectively. Registration opens 15 November with Bottas anticipating over 1500 participants for the first edition.

FNLD GRVL registration and event information HERE.

And if you happen to be in Austin, Texas USA on 20 October 2022, you can join Bottas on a pop-up coffee ride before he lines up to race in the US F1 Grand Prix…

Photos: FNLD GRVL