Entrepreneur holds out hope for Danish Formula 1 race
A project to bring a Formula 1 event to Copenhagen has been officially scrapped, but one of the concept’s promotors has not yet given up hope of seeing the sport come to Denmark.
Helge Sander, an entrepreneur, former MP and the primary backer of the original project, said that he was interested in finding an alternative Danish location for Formula 1.
“The positive vibe around Formula 1 has naturally caused other municipalities to react,” Sander said.
“If a sufficiently interesting project emerges elsewhere in Denmark, it should naturally be tried, provided the relevant practical, sustainable and economic conditions are fulfilled,” he said.
The municipalities in question do not currently wish to be named, Sander said, adding that the sport’s licensing body Formula One Management would have the final say on the matter.
But the Formula 1 calendar is evidence that any Danish Grand Prix would not have to be held in the country’s capital, he said.
The entrepreneur said he remained disappointed by the lack of government and municipal support for using the streets of Copenhagen as a race track.
Sander’s proposal for the city had been approved by the Formula 1 management in London and regulator FIA.
But that project is now officially over, despite two years of preliminary work costing several million Danish kroner.
The company used for the campaign, the Society for Promotion of Formula 1 in Copenhagen (Foreningen til Fremme af Formel 1 i København), has now been deregistered as a company and with tax authorities, Sander confirmed.
That comes after Copenhagen Lord Mayor said in September that he no longer viewed the concept as politically viable.
“We had to take in the shock of that announcement, but we have to accept that right now it is not possible to arrange a Formula 1 race in Copenhagen, even though I have received positive messages almost daily since the mayor’s announcement,” Sander said.
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Helge Sander, an entrepreneur, former MP and the primary backer of the original project, said that he was interested in finding an alternative Danish location for Formula 1.
“The positive vibe around Formula 1 has naturally caused other municipalities to react,” Sander said.
“If a sufficiently interesting project emerges elsewhere in Denmark, it should naturally be tried, provided the relevant practical, sustainable and economic conditions are fulfilled,” he said.
The municipalities in question do not currently wish to be named, Sander said, adding that the sport’s licensing body Formula One Management would have the final say on the matter.
But the Formula 1 calendar is evidence that any Danish Grand Prix would not have to be held in the country’s capital, he said.
The entrepreneur said he remained disappointed by the lack of government and municipal support for using the streets of Copenhagen as a race track.
Sander’s proposal for the city had been approved by the Formula 1 management in London and regulator FIA.
But that project is now officially over, despite two years of preliminary work costing several million Danish kroner.
The company used for the campaign, the Society for Promotion of Formula 1 in Copenhagen (Foreningen til Fremme af Formel 1 i København), has now been deregistered as a company and with tax authorities, Sander confirmed.
That comes after Copenhagen Lord Mayor said in September that he no longer viewed the concept as politically viable.
“We had to take in the shock of that announcement, but we have to accept that right now it is not possible to arrange a Formula 1 race in Copenhagen, even though I have received positive messages almost daily since the mayor’s announcement,” Sander said.
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