Denmark wants its own F1 circuit

[natterjak]

Not only that, they’ve got someone who’s never seen an F1 track before to design it apparently. Look at this dogs dinner:



From here:
https://www.racefans.net/2026/05/12/round-up-12th-...

I didn’t manage to read the article linked from that page as it’s in Danish and I lost the will to mess about with a translator, but if it happens I hope it’s not built like the image.

[StevieBee]

For me, that looks like quite an interesting circuit. I don't see it being any worse or better than many others currently being used but certainly not a dogs dinner.

Won't happen of course but an interesting concept.

[Gary29]

Giving me Zandvoort vibes at first glance.

[Zetec-S]

Gary29 said:

Giving me Zandvoort vibes at first glance.

That was my initial reaction.

As said, will never happen, there's not enough appetite/funding for a brand new circuit in Europe.

[StevieBee]

Zetec-S said:

there's not enough appetite/funding for a brand new circuit in Europe.

Hold that thought!

New track recently opened in Bulgaria: FIA Cat 3 at the moment but plans to expand to F1 grade facilities.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiU1132dpLo&t=...

Obviously having a F1 grade circuit and hosting F1 are two entirely different things but there's certainly the appetite there within government to do that and is a topic of regular discussion there. Lots of EU money is directed into that region to get them levelled up economically with the rest of Europe. If anything does happen it won't be for a while but if I were to put money on which European country would next host a F1 race that hasn't before, it would be on BG.

Edited by StevieBee on Tuesday 12th May 09:18

[vaud]

Looks fun for a fast kart or a Caterham.

[bergclimber34]

They have some tracks there already, but nothing F1 level I think

[SpudLink]

natterjak said:

Not only that, they ve got someone who s never seen an F1 track before to design it apparently. Look at this dogs dinner:



From here:
https://www.racefans.net/2026/05/12/round-up-12th-...

I didn t manage to read the article linked from that page as it s in Danish and I lost the will to mess about with a translator, but if it happens I hope it s not built like the image.

Do you mean it doesn’t look like a track designed by Hermann Tilke? I'm fine with that.

Looks like it would be great to drive, but perhaps doesn’t lend itself to much overtaking with modern aero dependent cars.

Even if it doesn’t get an F1 race, it would make a good addition for other forms of international motorsport.

[SoulGlo]

Maybe they could get support and some funding from Lego (Danish brand) and build an racing inspired Lego theme park next to it

[Zetec-S]

StevieBee said:

Zetec-S said:

there's not enough appetite/funding for a brand new circuit in Europe.

Hold that thought!

New track recently opened in Bulgaria: FIA Cat 3 at the moment but plans to expand to F1 grade facilities.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiU1132dpLo&t=...

Obviously having a F1 grade circuit and hosting F1 are two entirely different things but there's certainly the appetite there within government to do that and is a topic of regular discussion there. Lots of EU money is directed into that region to get them levelled up economically with the rest of Europe. If anything does happen it won't be for a while but if I were to put money on which European country would next host a F1 race that hasn't before, it would be on BG.

Edited by StevieBee on Tuesday 12th May 09:18

Every day's a school day, thanks for that, I guess time will tell then

[Milkyway]

It looks a bit like some Scalextric tracks that I used to make.
Not bad, but too many curves in the middle section... maybe a chicane would suffice.
(Or a Donington style loop).

Edited by Milkyway on Tuesday 12th May 13:24

[leef44]

It always surprises me how the investment gets approved. Is there some investment analysis which shows the revenue and income from hosting F1 over the next 20 years to show that the returns are sufficient to justify the capital?

For example, India which didn't get to host F1 for many years. So do they end up with massive debt written off?

As a motor enthusiast, I like the idea that another country is thinking about this. The more the merrier.

[Collectingbrass]

SoulGlo said:

Maybe they could get support and some funding from Lego (Danish brand) and build an racing inspired Lego theme park next to it

Given the age of most F1 drivers these days they could just send them to the Legoland driving school at Billund in full size Lego F1 cars

[Zetec-S]

leef44 said:

It always surprises me how the investment gets approved. Is there some investment analysis which shows the revenue and income from hosting F1 over the next 20 years to show that the returns are sufficient to justify the capital?

For example, India which didn't get to host F1 for many years. So do they end up with massive debt written off?

As a motor enthusiast, I like the idea that another country is thinking about this. The more the merrier.

The problem is it's unlikely it would be given a 20 year contract, so they couldn't guarantee long term returns.

I imagine the attitude is different in somewhere like India, which has seen rapid economic growth over the past couple of decades and so could justify the big expenditure as part of it's overall development plan.

[TheDeuce]

The real problem in Denmark is that they'll install a bicycle lane around the circuit

I always treat these plans as highly speculative. In theory Greece is progressing plans with the FIA for an F1 circuit too... That's been several years with little tangible progress though.

[asfault]

natterjak said:

Not only that, they ve got someone who s never seen an F1 track before to design it apparently. Look at this dogs dinner:



From here:
https://www.racefans.net/2026/05/12/round-up-12th-...

I didn t manage to read the article linked from that page as it s in Danish and I lost the will to mess about with a translator, but if it happens I hope it s not built like the image.

Assuming that is clockwise what is it with the early apex corners. They are the worst for overtaking. There's 2 there at the best overtaking spots.

[mcdjl]

asfault said:

natterjak said:

Not only that, they ve got someone who s never seen an F1 track before to design it apparently. Look at this dogs dinner:



From here:
https://www.racefans.net/2026/05/12/round-up-12th-...

I didn t manage to read the article linked from that page as it s in Danish and I lost the will to mess about with a translator, but if it happens I hope it s not built like the image.

Assuming that is clockwise what is it with the early apex corners. They are the worst for overtaking. There's 2 there at the best overtaking spots.

Looks better suited to anti clockwise from the shape of the gravel traps.

[SpudLink]

mcdjl said:

asfault said:

natterjak said:

Not only that, they ve got someone who s never seen an F1 track before to design it apparently. Look at this dogs dinner:



From here:
https://www.racefans.net/2026/05/12/round-up-12th-...

I didn t manage to read the article linked from that page as it s in Danish and I lost the will to mess about with a translator, but if it happens I hope it s not built like the image.

Assuming that is clockwise what is it with the early apex corners. They are the worst for overtaking. There's 2 there at the best overtaking spots.

Looks better suited to anti clockwise from the shape of the gravel traps.

Yeah, definitely looks anti-clockwise to me.

[StevieBee]

leef44 said:

It always surprises me how the investment gets approved. Is there some investment analysis which shows the revenue and income from hosting F1 over the next 20 years to show that the returns are sufficient to justify the capital?

For example, India which didn't get to host F1 for many years. So do they end up with massive debt written off?

As a motor enthusiast, I like the idea that another country is thinking about this. The more the merrier.

In a word, yes.

The scale of investment needed to build a circuit from scratch goes way beyond the old-school local businessman taking a punt. You have to build entire infrastructures around public transport, increase capacity of the local hospitality sector, etc. This means governments (local or national) have to at least underwrite the endeavour.

Investment analysis looks at the immediate, tangible benefits; tourism and the associated increase in the purchase of local good and services (which alone can sometimes cover the costs such as Melbourne) and the longer term intangibles; profile raising as part of wider regional development strategies - such as Baku. How many people knew Baku even existed 15 years ago?

India was the last privately funded circuit - and a complete balls-up. The circuit owners / promotors failed to lobby the government to classify F1 as a sport. Instead they classified it as 'Entertainment' which eliminated tax exemptions, resulting in huge entertainment taxes and customs duties levied on the teams and F1 and also subjected the teams and sport to heavy income tax exposure. Add in the usual level of corruption that exists in such places and it was doomed to fail. Either way, the debt incurred there was private not public.