1971 Individual Speedway World Championship

The 1971 Individual Speedway World Championship was the 26th edition of the official World Championship to determine the world champion rider.

Ole Olsen became the first Danish winner of the Championship. His 15 point maximum denied Ivan Mauger from winning a fourth consecutive title. Mauger won the silver medal run-off against Bengt Jansson.

Format changes
The format of the Championship changed again for the 1971 event. This time the Swedish riders were allowed six places in the World Final to be held in Sweden. All other nations had to go through the European Final route to provide the remaining 10 riders for the World Final.

First round
Qualification results.

British/Commonwealth qualifying

 * Top 32 to British/Commonwealth semi-finals

Second round
{| width=100%
 * width=50% valign=top|

Norwegian qualifying

 * 20 September 1970
 * 🇳🇴 Geiteryggen Speedwaybane, Skien
 * Top 1 (+6 seeded) to Nordic final 1971
 * width=50% valign=top|

Finnish qualifying (top 8)

 * (2 rounds) 11 Aug & 25 Aug 1970
 * 🇫🇮 Kärpänen Speedway, Lahti & Eteläpuisto, Tampere
 * Top 2 to Nordic final 1971
 * }

Continental qualifying

 * Top 32 to Continental semi-finals

British/Commonwealth Final

 * 16 June 1971
 * 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Brandon Stadium, Coventry
 * First 12 to British-Nordic Final

Nordic Final

 * 6 June 1971
 * Selskov Stadium, Hillerød
 * First 4 to British/Commonwealth-Nordic Final

Swedish qualifying

 * Top 4 in each heat to Swedish final

British/Commonwealth/Nordic Final

 * 30 July 1971
 * Hampden Park, Glasgow
 * First 8 to European Final

Continental Final

 * 26 June 1971
 * Slaný Speedway Stadium, Slaný
 * First 8 to European Final plus 1 reserve

Swedish Finals

 * Three races held on
 * R1, 1 June at Snälltorpet, Eskilstuna
 * R2, 2 June at Norrköping Motorstadion, Norrköping
 * R3, 3 June in Gubbängens IP, Stockholm
 * Top 6 to World Final & 1 reserve

European Final

 * 21 August 1971
 * 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Wembley Stadium, London
 * First 10 to World Final plus 1 reserve

World Final

 * 10 September 1971
 * 🇸🇪 Ullevi, Göteborg
 * Referee: Georg Traunspurger

Note : Vladimir Gordeev was disqualified after illegal additives were found in his fuel.