In 1939 races where organized in the Dutch seaside
resort Zandvoort at a
street circuit. The success from
this event convinced Major H. van Alphen that a permanent race track
would be a great profit for his town. Unfortunately, the outbreak of
World War Two and the following German occupation from the
Netherlands interrupted this plan. But it didn't stop him to make
preparations for the circuit. He told the Germans that he would have
a parade street for the winners of the war. So it happens that the
Germans built the main straight of the prospective circuit, not
aware that the Major had other ideas with the track. When finally
the war was over, the construction of the circuit could really get
started. With the rubble of the hotels who where destroyed during
the war as foundation, a track was built. In 1948 the track was
asphalted and at August the 7th that year, the first races where
held at the brand new race track called Circuit Park Zandvoort.
The start of the very first race at Zandvoort.
The original circuit was very twisty but most
corners where very quick. That made Zandvoort a fast circuit. The
first half of the track is still in use. Short after the corner
called "Scheivlak",
where now the new part begins, was original a very fast left hand
kink followed by a right hand kink. In 1980 the speed was reduced at
this part by a new chicane, the
Marlboro Corner. A few hundred metres further was another
fast kink called "Tunnel East", named after the tunnel underneath
the track at this point. In this kink two Formula one drivers lost
their life, Piers Courage in 1970 and Roger Williamson in 1973.
After a short straight came very fast right left combination called
"Bos In". This combination was replaced by a chicane in 1973, the
Panorama Corner. It was the first time that the layout of
the track was modified ...
The original layout from Circuit Park Zandvoort.
Click on the map for a lap around the old circuit.
The first Dutch Grand Prix took place in 1950 as
an inaugural race, just like in 1951. But already in 1948 and 1949
there was a Grand Prix of Zandvoort. The first official Dutch
Formula One Grand Prix was in 1952. Except in the years 1954, 1956,
1957 and 1972 Formula One came to Zandvoort every year until 1985.
In 1972 the track was found to dangerous. Those years there was a
controversy between those who where pro and anti the use of crash
barriers of steel. The Grand Prix Drivers Association, under the
lead of Jacky Stewart, where pro and found that the barriers should
be constructed close to the track as possible. The argument was that
this would reduce the change that a car would crash into the barrier
under a big angle. The circuit exploiters, who where mostly against
these steel crash barriers, prefer run off areas with fences of
gauze to slow down the cars when they went of the track. They
pointed out that huge fires where caused when a cars crashed into a
barrier of steel. However, Zandvoort had to make some changes to get
the Grand Prix back. With a lot of pain they could finance the
required renovation works. Around the whole circuit came crash
barriers and the fast right left "Bos In" combination was replaced
by a chicane, the
Panorama Corner.
Start of the 1964 Grand Prix.
Ironically enough when Formula One returned to
Zandvoort for the 1973 Dutch Grand Prix, a tragedy would confirm the
vision of the those who where against the steel crash barriers.
After eight laps the British driver Roger Willimson crashed with his
March into the steel barrier at the inside of the "Tunnel East"
kink. His car flipped upside down and catch fire. Fellow driver
David Purley stopped and tried to turn the car upright. But despite
his brave attempt to rescue his friend, Roger Williamson died into
the flames.
In the old days the circuit was also used for the annual Tulip
Rally. For this event they changed
the driving direction to anticlockwise.
The last Formula One race at Zandvoort was on August the 25th
1985. Teammates Alain Prost and Niki Lauda where fighting al the way to the
finish. Finally Niki Lauda won the race with a lead of two tenths of a second at
Alain Prost! It was his 25th and last victory. Ayrton Senna made the podium
complete with his third place. Because there was no money to finance the
renovations who where required for 1986, and there was also a debt from the year
before, Formula One bosses decided to remove Zandvoort from the calendar.
How comes the Tarzan Corner to his strange name? Click on the
picture above and read the
stories behind the names of the corners at Zandvoort!
Unfortunately political opposition runs as a red
wire by history from the circuit of Zandvoort. Already in the
fifties newspapers report that the municipality Council of Zandvoort
would close the circuit. However, the first real threat came on
November the 10th 1970 when the municipality Council decided to
close the circuit if someone could find another destination for the
circuit ground. This led to fierce protests from the people of
Zandvoort. Local entrepreneurs took the initiative for a poll and
the outcome was that 80% of the people of Zandvoort wanted to keep
the circuit. In 1972 the local government stopped the finance to the
circuit and as a result of that the required improvements for
Formula One could not go ahead. The Dutch Car Racing Association had
to choose, or they dropped the circuit or they took it over.
Fortunately they choose the last option. On February the 17 1973 a
15 year lease contract was signed with the local government. Finance for the
renovations where found and the future of the circuit looked
secured. But the opposition didn't stop. Many trials are conducted
because of alleged noise nuisance. Despite the race cars use sound
silencing devices at Zandvoort since 1979, the opposition was not
contented. Already in 1978 the Ministry of Public Health and
Environment came with the idea to change the layout of the track so
that it comes further from the village. However, in 1981 the
municipality Council decides that the target would be to close the
race track. On February the 27th 1982 Dutch race fans where
demonstrating in front of the parliament. A foundation "Save
Zandvoort" was founded. During the municipal Council elections from
1982 the Dutch Labour Party suffers sensitive losses. This was
mainly caused by their anti circuit policy. In 1985 the policy
concerning the circuit changed. The Council of State found that the
presence of the circuit did not obstruct the extension of the
village and should stay at his location. But already new troubles
where coming ...
From 1989 to 1998 this beautiful section of the race track was
not used and neglected. Click on the picture to see how the layout
of the track changed by the years.
At the end of 1985 the municipal Council came with
the idea to sell a part of the circuit ground to a Dutch group of
investors who want to built a holiday resort in Zandvoort. Because
the circuit was in financial trouble they had no other choice than
accept this. A solution was found in the old plan from 1978 to
change the layout of the circuit, which was also a good solution for
the noise nuisance. In January 1987 the Provincial Council confirmed
this plan. But the circuit was in deep financial trouble and was
declared bankrupt on June the 16th 1987. On the 21st of September
the Foundation Exploitation Circuit Park was founded to make a new
start. With the money from the sold ground a new section of the
circuit was built. This new version of the circuit was opened in
1989 and reduced the length to 2,5 km
(1.56 Mile).
This was a temporary solution necessary to keep the
circuit operational, and the only solution they could permit at that
time. However, an extension to bring back the circuit at a normal
length was planned for later. With the opening of this so called
"Interim Circuit", the old circuit of Zandvoort came to an end.
Above the demolished old pits in 1997, in 1998
there was a brand new pits (picture below).
During the period of the interim
circuit the circuit was renovated bit by bit. Among other things a
new pit complex was rising in 1998. Also a new lease contract to
2013 was signed with the local government (who are the owners of the
ground). This contract was an important condition to find investors
to finance the planned extension. After a nine years of judicial battle,
they finally started the construction of the new part of the circuit
at the end of 1998. In the spring of 1999 the new circuit was opened
and the demanding section from the "Hunzerug" to the "Scheivlak"
was taken in use again, which made Zandvoort again to one of the
most beautiful circuits in the world.
Above the construction works at the end of 1998.
Below the opening of the new circuit in the
pring of 1999.
More pictures from Circuit Park Zandvoort in the
gallery!
In 2008 a new lease contract up to
2041 was signed. However the are still people who want to obstruct
the circuit. A decision to give the circuit more noise days was
cancelled and as a result of that, the Masters of Formula 3 race -
especially created for Zandvoort in 1991 - was held on Zolder in
Belgium for two years. There was also a plan from the Provincial
Executive to move over the circuit from Zandvoort to Julianadorp, a
village near Den Helder in the North of the Netherlands. Move over
the circuit would be nothing else than the destroying of the
beautiful race track at Zandvoort, with all the history, to build a
new track on the new location. Without a doubt, such a new track
would be a modern stop and go circuit designed by Mr. Tilke.
Fortunately this terrible plan is off the table now! But you can
still wait for the next attack on the circuit ...
The Scheivlak, one of the most beautiful corners at Zandvoort.
Click on the picture for more information about this corner.
