Although the goal of a racing driver is always to be the fastest, there is no set route to the top. Theodor Jensen's route into professional racing was unorthodox, but despite this, the young Dane is currently showing why he is one to watch in the future.

Born in the picturesque city of Randers, Theodor grew up around racing, his father being an avid motocross rider, but didn't want to start driving himself until the end of 2021. Before getting behind the wheel for real, his first taste of motorsport came through the official Formula 1 video game.

In March 2022, he took the first step in his non-digital motorsport journey, testing a Formula 4 car at a wet Padborg park. Although it was his first time in an open-wheel race car, Theodor set respectable times not far off the official F4 times at the track - and from then on he was hooked. 

On-track for real 

Following his initial test, Theodor entered his first competitive series, the Danish Formula 4 championship, taking a victory and three podiums in his rookie season, netting him an excellent seventh in the drivers' standings.

He then gained further experience by competing part-time in the Spanish F4 championship, securing a best finish of 15th.

The next stop was the UAE F4 Championship, before returning to Europe for a full-time campaign in the Spanish F4 Championship and a part-time campaign in the Danish F4 Championship.

In 2023, he ventured into sports cars, racing a Porsche Cayman GT4 and an LMP3 car in the Danish Endurance Championship and Ultimate Cup Series.

America comes calling

For 2024, Theodor graduated to the Eurocup-3 team with IndyCar champion Alex Palou's Palou Motorsports. The results have shown Theodor's progression as a driver, scoring four rookie podiums and five top-10 finishes thus far.

In a pre-season test at Valencia, he shadowed the double IndyCar champion on and off track, and gained valuable insight into how the Spaniard conducts himself at the circuit and received pivotal advice.

The Spaniard also took the Dane to the Grand Prix of Monterey, giving him his first glimpse of the iconic Laguna Seca circuit. 

With his stock rising, Theodor set his sights on following his boss' footsteps and landing a seat in the highly competitive IndyCar series by debuting in the FR Americas series this year. He got his first taste of the legendary brickyard, which hosts the biggest race in American motorsport, the Indy 500. He acquitted himself well, taking three top-five finishes and finishing third in race 1.

For 2024 and 2025, Theodor plans to continue in the EC3 championship before moving on to the American race ladder.

The benefits of IndyCar 

In recent years, several Danish drivers have landed seats in IndyCar, with Christian Lundgaard and Christian Rasmussen representing the country in the series. Lundgaard is also a race winner, having won in Toronto for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing in 2023.

Unlike F1, Theodor prefers the American racing style - It’s a series that emphasizes track action and racecraft. He finds IndyCar racing more pure and feels the atmosphere around the paddock is more down to earth.

The IndyCar paddock is a far friendlier fraternity where the drivers can mingle off-track but remain close rivals on it. The brotherhood among the drivers also extends to the motorhomes, usually parked next to each other, giving the drivers' families a chance to bond between sessions.

Fans are also given a better experience as they can mix with the heroes more closely through affordable tickets and open fan sessions, allowing ticket holders to see and greet the drivers up close. IndyCar receives live television coverage in 200 countries, giving sponsors excellent exposure. 

IndyCar races at iconic North American circuits, from the ovals of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Milwaukee Mile to the twisty streets of Toronto and Detroit.

The Road to Indy ladder is also attractive to junior drivers as there is a chance they can progress to the top of the series, something which isn't guaranteed in Europe. For the champion of the IndyNXT series, the final step on the ladder, they are guaranteed three IndyCar series starts, which include the Indy 500 and a $1m scholarship towards a spot in the series.