Could Formula 1 come to Denmark? Novo Heir unveils plan

Denmark’s hopes of being hosts of a Formula 1 race weekend have been reignited after a new and ambitious plan was unveiled.

(Image credit to TV2)

Members of the family behind pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk - known for bringing Ozempic to the world - are backing an ambitious new circuit project in southern Denmark.

The father-and-son duo, Henrik Lyngbye Pedersen and Mathias Lyngbye Villadsen are the visionaries behind this project and as heir to Novo Nordisk founders and actives themselves in the sport, they plan to bring this vision to life with a budget of 3,8 billions DKK - roughly £439 million.

The two Danish men have self-funded the initial stages and are now courting international investors, having also pitched the project to members of the local municipality.

‘Circuit of Denmark’ - designed by the Austrian firm Wurz Design, led by former F1 driver Alexander Wurz - is set to have a capacity for over 100.000 people, as well as becoming Northern Europe’s longest track at 6.006 km. 

This will happen by transforming and expanding the current Padborg Park, which is currently used as a racing track for series like Nordic 4, Super GT Danmark or Legends Car Cup amongst others. 

Jens Hansen, F1 commentator for Viaplay and TV3 Sport tells tvSYD that it offers the best to both worlds as it is located near the German border and only being a five-hour drive to the Netherlands from the facility.

(Image credit to TV2 Sport)

In 2017, a 4.55 km long street circuit with 9 turns that winds through the streets of Denmark’s capital city Copenhagen - image above - was approved by Liberty Media, who owns Formula 1.

The project back then was created in a collaboration between the former Formula 1 driver, Jan Magnussen and a number of Formula 1 owners like Liberty Media and the goal was to have a Grand Prix in 2020.

This project then ultimately collapsed after political support disappeared, but is now being slowly revived through a new project.

Initially, the current track proposal would not meet the Formula 1 homologation requirements, although the long-term goal is to eventually be part of the global championship.

Project director Rebecca Palmberg Steele, formerly of the Danish Football Association and FC Copenhagen, has confirmed that the facility is being designed to meet both Formula 1, The State of Denmark and the Municipality’s requirements.

Article written by Laura Friis