Copenhagen Historic Grand Prix 2022 - Race
BELLAHØJ TURNED INTO A CIRCUIT
For the 21st time already the streets at Bellahøj, Copenhagen have undergone a transformation worthy of cities like Monaco or Baku. Even though the track built for Copenhagen Historic Grand Prix is not as famous nor pristine as its Formula 1 counterparts, the 2.4 kilometre loop is still an impressive venue for the weekend.
Doubtlessly the biggest of events of such a kind in Denmark, the race takes place on a counterclockwise-running circuit starting downhill. Despite being limited by rather simple road geometry around the venue, organisers interweaved the fast straights with a few chicanes to slow down this fast-by-default track. Inside the loop there were the paddock and exhibition space with entertainment and food courts all around. An event truly thought through for entire families.
SO LOUD YOU CAN HEAR IT FROM ANOTHER DISTRICT
The event spans over the entire weekend. New to the program was the evening session on Friday, which started a couple hours after the inauguration rally had finished. In the evening sun and some artificial street lighting the drivers had a good chance to familiarise themselves with the circuit and its conditions before qualifications and races commenced on Saturday and Sunday.
What surprised me then on Saturday morning is that I actually heard the first cars heading onto their laps… from my bed, being no less than five kilometres away! It proves that the cars - or racing beasts, if you like – are no joke but rather true racers, in many instances period correct. All pieces of the puzzle come together as Copenhagen Historic Grand Prix is not an exhibition event. Real racing for every centimetre of each corner is involved round the clock!
RACING CLASSES TO SUIT MANY TASTES
One of the aspects that characterises Copenhagen Historic Grand Prix is the vast selection of cars partaking in the event. Those were subdivided into eight classes. First three were limited by production year of the vehicles, with the boundaries being 1965, 1971 and lastly 1990. These were followed by Formula Junior and Royal Pro/Am group, where mixed teams of professionals and amateurs took part. It is in this class, that HRH Prince Joachim was paired with Tom Kristensen, who holds the record for most 24h Le Mans wins!
Whilst the name of the event includes the word “Historic”, which may suggest only vintage automobiles were be on the menu, this is not necessarily the case. Bellahøj Park forms a calendar round for both the Danish Touring Cars as well as the Legends Car Cup. Third modern class was Youngtimer with vehicles as juvenile as originating from 2004.
Having my interests oriented towards vintage motoring I was most impressed by the race prepared Ford/Lotus Cortina, Volvo Amazon, Porsche 911s, BMW 2002 and similar. However, the grid was much more varied than that. Racing wheel-to-wheel with small 1970 Fiat 1000TC were gigantic in comparison Ford Mustangs but the biggest contrast was created by… Austin Mini and Ford Galaxie, the latter being almost twice as long!
Probably the best part of the event is the fact that the pits and working spaces for the teams are open for visitors and one can observe both the cars and teamwork from close by. After a racing heat the vehicles are being driven into their designated spots for maintenance and quite often – quick repairs. Changing brakes, gearboxes and stitching the bodywork together was not a rare sight in the pits… if the car made it there. Sometimes it was not granted!
A spectacular sight on the track was doubtlessly the Formula Junior. Launched by Giovanni Lurani in 1958 it looks a bit like the early Formula 1 cars with certain limitations. The lightweight, space-frame vehicles are powered by either a 1000ccm or 1100cm engine depending on the car weight. There were eight different Formula cars in Copenhagen and their drivers truly resembled heroes – especially when countering the oversteer of their single-seaters in the rain!
NOT ONLY PURE RACING HEATS
It was not all about pure racing, though! On both weekend days there were two very interesting points on the agenda – the Copenhagen Historic Autoshow and Historical Exhibition Heat. The first was doubtlessly dominated by vehicles from the Selected Car Group. The company has brought across a very impressive collection starting with… most important Ferrari supercars produced over several decades. Leading was La Ferrari, followed by Ferrari Enzo, then F50 and F40 only for the cavalcade to be closed by the mythical 288 GTO. I have never seen such a palette in one place, especially in motion!
It is difficult not to mention the two Le Mans cars, which were not entirely happy about a slower pace of the exhibition and attempted what looked like a bit of racing. The Porsche 911 GT1 fighting for position with the BMW M1 URD previously driven in 1986 by Jens Winther is a unique sight on the streets of Copenhagen. Whilst it is difficult to keep the Le Mans heroes on the leash for technical reasons, Bentley Super Eight and Jewett Jupiter trailing closely behind seemed to quite enjoy the pace! What a show!
HOP IN THE RACE-CAR FOR CHARITY
So far it seems like the Grand Prix is an exciting event with lots of automotive diversity and opportunity to watch rare racing cars in their natural habitat. It is so good, it is even approved of by the royalty. Great! What if I told you, that you can be a part of it as well and do good at the same time? Ever since 2010 an indispensable part of the weekend is Race for Riget – a set of charity runs, which visitors can sign up for and experience a breathtaking ride with some of the best pilots in the world!
This year was no exception and there were some pretty hot opportunities up for grabs! Can you imagine sitting next to Tom Kristensen in a Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo or accompanying Michelle Gatting in her Porsche 911 GT3? Overall there were 27 pairs of cars and drivers to choose from, split into three excitement classes – Gold, Silver and Bronze. This year’s edition has beaten the record and raised a staggering 740’000 DKK to aid a program at Rigshospitalet, supporting children and young people treatment.
ENGINES OFF… UNTIL THE NEXT TIME!
The racing weekend has passed in a blink of an eye. The prelude rally, the Friday evening session followed by an exciting two days full of high-quality classic racing make for a fantastic retreat for every petrolhead. Mixed weather conditions provided for a great variety of car behaviours and lead to some fascinating saves and manoeuvres that will stay in memories for long.
However, all good things come to an end. Right after 1965 class finished its final heat the last engine was turned off and everyone started to pack up their racing companions onto trailers and setting to clean the pits. Fear not though! The 2023 will bring another edition of the Copenhagen classic in the first weekend of August. Save the date and Godspeed!
Text & Photos: Adam Pekala ©
