Formula 1 star on a gravel bike: Bottas qualifies for the Gravel World Championship

The 2024 Gravel World Championship will take place in Leuven, Belgium, in October, and Valtteri Bottas will also be taking part. The 34-year-old qualified at the Swartberg 100 in South Africa at the weekend, where he finished sixth in his age group (45th overall). The Formula 1 driver was therefore among the fastest 25 per cent of his age group and secured the right to compete in the 2024 Gravel World Championship.

>> All dates of the UCI Gravel World Series

Valtteri Bottas celebrates success in the Swartberg gravel race

The route of the Swartberg 100 was a tough one. Over 170 kilometres, 2900 metres of altitude had to be conquered, including the 28-kilometre climb to the Swartberg. "What a breathtaking route! Tough, but beautiful scenery. I came 6th in my age group, which means I've qualified for the Gravel World Championships," Bottas wrote at X (formerly Twitter).

Girlfriend of Valtteri Bottas wins the women's race

Bottas' girlfriend Tiffany Cromwell took first place in the women's race. The Australian has been in a relationship with the Finn since 2020.

Bottas, who also organises his own gravel race in Finland under the name FNLD GRVL, is not doing quite so well in Formula 1 at the moment, where the Finn, who drives for the Stake F1 Team, still has zero points this season. At the last Grand Prix in China, Bottas had to park his car prematurely after a defect.