Circuit Zandvoort in the 1990's with never executed proposals

In this Circuits of the past video, we show you the layout and the proposed extensions of the Zandvoort Circuit in the Netherlands in the 1990’s. But first a bit of the history of Zandvoort.

The permanent circuit of Zandvoort opened in 1948, after there were already races on a street circuit in the Dutch seaside resort of Zandvoort in 1939. This convinced the mayor that there should be a permanent circuit.

Unfortunately, the second world war intervened and the construction of the circuit had to be postponed. However, construction started during the war. The mayor told the German occupiers that he wanted to build a parade road. The Germans cooperated, not knowing that the mayor had very different plans.

Then in August 1948 the permanent circuit of Zandvoort could be opened. The original layout was very twisty, but also very fast at the same time. Zandvoort hosted Formula 1 races from 1950 up to 1985. For safety reasons chicanes were built in 1973 and 1980.

In 1989, the municipality of Zandvoort, owner of the site, sold part of the circuit site to a project developer who wanted to build a bungalow park there. This meant that the circuit could no longer be driven around. With the little money that was available, a new section was built, so that the circuit was still suitable for national races.

Even before the sale, the circuit was already in financial trouble. It would have been very close or Circuit Zandvoort would not even have been there anymore. Thanks to the passionate efforts of the then circuit director, the late Hans Ernst, the circuit managed to survive. A bend was later named after him as a tribute.

In the 1990s, mainly club races were held on Zandvoort, which is only 2.5 kilometers short now. Part of the old circuit was left abandoned, while a bungalow park had risen on another part.

Plans were made to extend the circuit again, with part of the old circuit also being put back into use. The ultimate dream was to bring back Formula 1. But that dream seemed far away in the 1990s. If you had predicted that Formula 1 would be back thirty years later, you probably would have been taken away in a straitjacket,

During the 1990’s several plans were presented to extend the track. On the site of the old Marlboro Corner they want to built a new fast corner. In later proposals this turn was changed to a chicane.

The most ambitious plan included a new Start/Finish straight and pits on another location. This relocation of the pits would also solve the lack of space in the current paddock. In addition, this variant allowed for many different track layouts. However, this design did not take into account the fens in the courtyard.

After almost ten years of legal wrangling, the green light was finally given for the extension of the track. However, the plan was changed so that a shorter part of the old circuit was used. And there was no question of a new Start/Finish at all.

Construction of the new circuit began in 1998 and the new circuit was opened in the spring of 1999. And the rest is history. Due to the success of Max Verstappen, Formula 1 became extremely popular in the Netherlands and there was another call for a Dutch Grand Prix. Formula 1 has returned to Zandvoort since 2021. However, some changes had to be made to the existing circuit. Including the construction of two banked corners.

Special thanks to Simon Smith for the voiceover. Visit also his channel:    / higherplaingames  

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