Luke Roberts
December 4th, 2020

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It hasn’t taken Kevin Magnussen very long to find a new team following the news that Haas won’t be renewing his contract to race in Formula 1.

This week he has confirmed he will be racing in the IMSA SportsCar Championship with Chip Ganassi next year.

“If you are in professional racing anywhere in the world, you know the name Chip Ganassi and what it represents in motorsport,” Magnussen told DR. “Chip has built one of the best racing organisations – on and off the track.”

In his father’s footsteps
He joins a number of Danish drivers who have looked to the US to race – not least his father Jan Magnussen.

Papa Mags won the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in both 2017 and 2018 – the same class that Magnus will now race in – although he was recently let go by Corvette Racing after 16 years in the team.

Fellow Danes Tom Kristensen and Christina Nielsen have also previously experienced success in IMSA – meaning the young Magnussen has some large boots to fill.

FCM land historic point
After a disappointing first four results, Champions League debutants FC Midtjylland secured their first point in the competition with a 1-1 draw away at Italian side Atalanta on Tuesday night. Alexander Scholz put the Wolves ahead in the 13th minute, but a mistake at the back cost the Danish side their lead with 11 minutes still to play. FCM were already out of the competition before the kick-off, but will nonetheless be pleased that their foray into Europe wrought some reward.

Denmark’s women qualify undefeated
Qualification was already well secured ahead of Denmark’s kick-off against the Italian national women’s side in Viborg, but the opportunity to finish with a 100 percent record was spoiled by a rather insipid display as the game finished goalless. A replay confirmed that a strike from Pernille Harder did actually cross the line, but it was ruled out by the referee. In all, Denmark finished the group stages with 28 points from 10 games and an impressive +47 goal difference.

Harder nominated for Denmark’s top prize
Star striker Pernille Harder has been nominated for Årets Sportsnavn 2020 – Denmark’s most prestigious sporting prize. She was the first nomination for this year’s award after a year that has seen her win the double in Germany, reached a Champions League final, break the world transfer records, lead her national team through the European group stages, and be crowned UEFA Player of the Year. Whilst most have had a difficult year, Harder will be wondering what everyone is moaning about!

Jannik Vestergaard helping Southampton to punch above its weight
In the Premier League, Southampton have been something of a surprise package this year, and they are currently sitting just outside the European places in sixth. They owe a lot of their success to Jannik Vestergaard, as the towering Dane has been a formidable force in defence, notching up the league’s highest number of headed clearances. Standing almost two metres tall, perhaps this is not much of a surprise.

Pedersen breaks into world top 100
Golfer Emily Krstine Pedersen has risen to a world ranking of number 69 after securing victory at the Open de España on Sunday. The triumph was her third European tour victory in a row, although one of these was in a team event at the same tournament where she won the individual prize, and her fourth of the season. At the beginning of the season she was ranked 509. She is now Denmark’s highest ranked player – leapfrogging Nanna Koerstz Madsen who has fallen to 72.

Rune runs out of steam
Despite being the clear favourite going into the Nordic Masters, 17-year-old tennis star Holge Rune was undone in the final by a fellow Dane, Christian Sigsgaard, 4-6 3-6. Rune’s frustration was visible, with him throwing his racket to the ground midway through the second set. Sigsgaard was the defending champion.

American company looks set to buy mystery Danish club
Pacific Media Group is reportedly set to buy an unknown Danish club next year, according to Bloomberg. The company already owns Barnsley in England, FC Thun in Switzerland and KV Oostende in Belgium, with deals underway to secure French side Nancy Lorraine and a Dutch side as well as a Danish club. It is not the first time there has been interest in Danish football, as the US-based Platek family purchased Sønderjyske in October.