Zandvoort 2021

I watched some of the Zandvoort GT race this past weekend, curious to see the new configuration. The broadcast didn't do a great job of introducing the circuit, and I thought the coverage was weak (although John Watson did commentary), however it left me with two observations.

F1 cars on that track will be wild, particularly if it rains.

If that race track can get FIA approval, why on earth are places like Watkins Glen or Road America unable to?

I know the answer is there's no commercial entity pushing for F1 to race at either track, but it sure seems like either of them are more suitable to F1 than the new Zandvoort.

 

Zandvoort is such a small and narrow track. I'll be amazed if there'll be actually any good racing...it'll be like hungary, but smaller! The newly profiled last corner may well help, however...but I'm not holding my breath, and that's saying it as someone who grew up in zandvoort!

Road America would be fantastic for F1...

 

The track will be a sea of orange.

 

I'm sure it will be a spectacular event, even if the course seems tight. A little bit of rain might spice it up.

 

Road America isn't interested in F1. There are many reasons but I'll name just a few. They aren't interested in building the permanent garages. Part II of that same issue is they aren't keen on building the F1 "Paddock Club" VIP boxes on top of the garages and not getting any of the money. Currently Liberty gets all of that. The same thing goes for the track signage. Right now RA owns all of that income from advertising signage. Also, they aren't interested in shutting off the paddock to fans. Paddock access at no extra charge is one of the reasons the track is beloved to fans. Right now RA pays the sanctioning fee and the series gets that and the TV money which should be plenty.

That isn't even getting into the track "improvements" F1 and the FIA might require. Right now if you want to explore track limits you have the choice of the "3 Gs" - grass, gravel and guardrail. Explore at your own risk.

Anyway all of those things are already there at Indianapolis. My thinking Roger and company don't want to pay the sanctioning fee.

 

Further to the above see post #105 in the other racing/IndyCar 2021 thread.

 

3 G's should be standard at all (F1) tracks

 

You highlight the main reasons why some circuits that would be suitable for F1 aren't interested in hosting a GP.
For the circuit owner it's a complete rip off.

 

That's very interesting and I had no idea about that...proper F1 oriented track then, love it!

Zandvoort had easy access pre-F1. You could get on the dunes surrounding the track with ease and watch from anywhere you like. Hell I used to walk my dogs after school and find some kind of practice going on at least. Especially fridays. I've been told all this wonderful access is now gone and you need passes to get anywhere, even when nothing is happening. Very sad...

 

Its for your safety...............................or some other bullcrap that sounds similar..................

 

big fence between the dunes and the track still...it's for the revenue more like, lol

 

I watched the GT race, too, just to see the circuit. I have to say it looks pretty primitive compared with the others.....not that I’m complaining.

 

I fully expect 90% of the fans there will be the ''orange army'' that we've seen in Austria and Hungary for example. Not my favourite type of fan if honest.

Expect them to be very vocal against Mercedes. The way Mercedes has been acting all season...I gladly welcome it. **** the mercs.

 

So the capacity has been reduced to 2/3rds, citing covid and reducing of spread thereof as the reason. I have several friends living in Zandvoort, literally a 500 meter walk to the entrace, that have held tickets since they where on sale that are not allowed to go. Bronze to gold ticket holders.


What a shambles.

 

It is primitive. As I mentioned before Zandvoort has been pretty much neglected for decades. It's a Laguna Seca kind of track, nothing fancy yet still very appealing.

I'm actually suprised they even organized a somewhat decent F1 venue. Although it doesn't get government support, not a single Euro.
Circuit Zandvoort Maakt Zich Op Voor Formule 1 - YouTube

However it's a historic track, between 1952 and 1985 it was a regular on the F1 calender.

 

Yes, I know its history. I’m glad it’s on the schedule again.

 

It's a good track for touring and GT meetings.
I was surprised to see it back on the F1 calendar. I expect they did a lot of work to bring it up to standards.
I can't wait to see the GP

 

The winner of the 1970 Dutch Grand Prix, Jochen Rindt in the then very radical, wedge shaped Lotus 72.

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Who will win this one? Looking forward to this race. Could be a very exciting with rain and the fact that the circuit has not been used for F1 (makes it more unpredictable).