Vera Jurland makes Formula Nordic history with third in championship standings
Vera Jurland has made history in the 2026 Formula Nordic season, becoming the first female driver in the history of the series to finish in the championship standings' top three.
Vera Jurland has made history in the 2026 Formula Nordic season, becoming the first female driver in the history of the series to finish in the championship standings' top three.
Jurland’s historic achievement came at the end of a season that combined strong performances, some setbacks but most importantly continued progression, with the Vortex Performance driver consistently demonstrating the speed and determination required to compete at the front of the Swedish junior single seater championship. Across the season, she secured four podium finishes and collected a series of valuable points on her way to third place, claiming a landmark result for women in Formula Nordic.
The final position was the culmination of a campaign in which Jurland repeatedly showed her ability to fight back from difficult circumstances and extract strong performances from her car. While the championship standings provide the clearest measure of her season, her campaign was also defined by the progress she made as a driver and her consistency when opportunities arose to fight at the sharp end of the field.
Throughout the year, Jurland continued to develop her racecraft and demonstrated increasing maturity behind the wheel, with her four podium finishes providing the foundation for her championship challenge, while her determination to keep fighting even when races did not unfold according to plan ultimately allowed her to secure third place in the championship.
The season finale at Mantorp Park provided another example of Jurland’s fight spirit. Starting Race 1 from ninth position, she produced a strong recovery drive to move forward through the pack and reach second place, putting herself in the mix for yet another podium finish.
With another top-three result within reach, Jurland continued to push, but a slightly overly aggressive braking manoeuvre into a corner compromised her run and cost her a couple of positions. She eventually crossed the finish line in fourth place, narrowly missing out on the podium.
Although the result was not what Jurland had hoped for after her impressive recovery from ninth on the grid, the performance nevertheless showcased the pace she had demonstrated throughout the season.
Once the final points of the season had been calculated, Jurland’s third-place championship finish was confirmed, securing her place in Formula Nordic history as the first female driver to finish a season on the championship podium.
For Jurland and the entire Vortex Performance operation, the achievement represented the culmination of a season-long effort involving not only the driver but also the mechanics, engineers, driver coaches and team management who supported her throughout the campaign. Jurland also highlighted the importance of the wider group behind her success, thanking Vortex Performance for providing the professional environment in which she was able to develop and compete, as well as the sponsors and partners whose support made the season possible.
“Becoming the first female driver in Formula Nordic history to finish on the championship podium feels absolutely incredible,” Jurland said. “It has been an amazing season with both successes and setbacks, but I have fought in every race and never lost focus. I am extremely proud of our four podium finishes and of securing third place in the Swedish Championship.”
The historic result also marks the beginning of a new phase for Jurland, with attention already turning towards 2027. While several opportunities and different offers are currently being considered, no decision has yet been announced regarding her next programme.
For now, Jurland can look back on a highly positive 2026 season in which she wrote a small chapter of Scandinavian motorsport history as well as clearly proven her place at the top of one of the most interesting feeder series in Northern Europe.
“A huge thank you to Vortex Performance, everyone within the team, my sponsors and all of you who supported me throughout the season,” Jurland added. “Without you, none of this would have been possible. Now I am excited to see what 2027 will bring.”
