The famous Dutch Grand Prix venue of Zandvoort will host a major new historic racing festival next summer after the circuit management made two noisy days available at the track which is hamstrung by local noise restrictions.
British-based race series will form the core of the September 1/2 Historic Grand Prix Zandvoort with races for the Historic Grand Prix Car Association, Grand Prix Masters, World Sportscar Masters, Sports Racing Masters and Gentleman Drivers.
“We believe that the event will establish itself among the best historic events on the international calendar,” said circuit boss Erik Weijers.
Zandvoort first opened for racing in 1948 and hosted the Dutch GP from 1952 to ’85. Since then, noise issues have limited the use of this popular seaside venue and the annual historic racing programme has been limited to a low-key national event in September. Zandvoort’s calendar is usually topped by the Masters F3 event and a DTM race meeting.
In other news, the chassis plate from the Toleman TG184 that Ayrton Senna took to second to place in the 1984 Monaco Grand Prix has been stolen while the car was on show in the Donington Grand Prix Collection.
Owned by racer and collector Nick Mason, chassis TG184-02 has been on show at Donington since a complete restoration by Ten Tenths in 2003 and is finished in Candy and Segafredo colours.
Mason has asked for those responsible for removing the chassis plate to return it. “I’m disappointed that anyone would want to remove part of a car’s history in this way,” he said.
One of the great disappointments in modern day racing was the need by local developers to remove forever 2/3 of this great circuit and turn it into apartments or whatever. It should have been given status that would keep the circuit intact forever. Unlike Tilke, John Hugenholtz certainly knew how to design a proper racing circuit….