Remembering the Roskilde Ring

For a small nation with precious few circuits, Denmark has produced some great racing drivers, notably ‘Mr Le Mans’ himself Tom Kristensen. As for Formula 1, Tom Belsø was the first of his countrymen to compete in the world championship when he drove for Frank Williams at Kyalami in 1974.

One of Denmark’s best-known tracks, Roskilde Ring briefly played its part on the world stage and is fondly remembered by more senior fans. In 1953 local businessman Paul Tholstrup acquired a disused gravel pit in Roskilde, a city just 20 miles from Copenhagen on the island of Zealand. Here he created Denmark’s first permanent circuit, which opened in the summer of 1955. The original layout was less than half a mile and was later extended to almost one mile with banked corners and no proper straight. The site had the feel of an amphitheatre, giving spectators a view of the entire track.

For two years, in 1961 and ’62, the Danish Grand Prix was a non-championship race for Formula 1 cars. Thereafter, Roskilde continued to stage a ‘Grand Prix’ for Formula 2 and Formula 3 cars until 1968, which then moved to Jyllands-Ringen where it was held until 1995.

Stirling Moss won the first Danish Grand Prix in 1961, winning all three heats in his Lotus. He probably didn’t endear himself to the Zealand racing fraternity by describing the Danish venue as a “rather peculiar little circuit” due to its twisty layout and the fact that it was driven anticlockwise. Jack Brabham was the winner the following year, again in a Lotus.

By the 1960s the site had become a park and there was residential development which resulted in the inevitable complaints about noise from the track. Eventually this led to the circuit’s closure in September 1968. Today the park, and its recreation areas including a golf course, are still known locally as the Roskilde Ring in memory of times when all the top F1 drivers came to race there.

ROSKILDE RING

In use 1955-68
Fastest race Lap 42sec, Reine Wisell, Tecno 68, Formula 3, 1968
Fastest F1 race Lap 42.7sec, Jack Brabham, Lotus 24, 1962

My top 3 tracks: Stefan Johansson

● Macau is like the Nürburgring on the streets. Fast and flowing corners with a long straight makes for great racing. It’s challenging to put together a good lap there but always an absolute joy to drive. It’s one of the best race tracks in the world. I loved racing there.

● The old Spa was the most challenging of all grand prix tracks but these days downforce levels and the new layout have enabled drivers to take Eau Rouge flat out in almost any single-seater or prototype car without too much effort.

● Suzuka is one of the few circuits where track knowledge really helps. It’s very technical and has a lot of little secrets that you need to unlock before you can get the most out of a lap. Suzuka is one of those circuits where a driver can make a difference.