Circuit Zandvoort

History

1930s to mid 1980s

There were plans for races at Zandvoort before World War II: the first street race was held on 3 June 1939. However, a permanent race track was not constructed until after the war, using communications roads built by the occupying German army. Contrary to popular belief John Hugenholtz cannot be credited with the design of the Zandvoort track, although he was involved as the chairman of the Nederlandse Automobiel Ren Club (Dutch Auto Racing Club) before becoming the first track director in 1949. Instead, it was 1927 Le Mans winner, S. C. H. "Sammy" Davis who was brought in as a track design advisor in July 1946 although the layout was partly dictated by the existing roads.

The first race on the circuit, the Prijs van Zandvoort, took place on 7 August 1948. The race was renamed the Grote Prijs van Zandvoort (Zandvoort Grand Prix) in 1949, then the Grote Prijs van Nederland (Dutch Grand Prix) in 1950. The 1952 race was the first to be run as a round of the World Championship, albeit to Formula Two regulations rather than Formula One regulations like all the European rounds of the championship that year; a similar situation also applied to the 1953. There was no Dutch Grand Prix in 1954, 1956 or 1957, but 1955 saw the first true Formula One race as part of the Drivers' Championship. The Dutch Grand Prix returned in 1958 and remained a permanent fixture on the F1 calendar (with the exception of 1972) through , when it was held for the last time in the 20th century.

Since 1985

To solve a number of problems that had made it impossible to develop and upgrade the circuit, most importantly noise pollution for Zandvoort inhabitants living closest to the track, the track management developed and adopted a plan to move the most southern part of the track away from the nearby housing estate, and rebuild a more compact track in the remaining former 'infield'. In January 1987 this plan got the necessary 'green light' when it was formally approved by the Provincial Council of North Holland. However, only a couple of months later a new problem arose: the company that commercially ran the circuit (CENAV), called in the receiver and went out of business, marking the end of 'Circuit Zandvoort'. Again the track, owned by the municipality of Zandvoort, was in danger of being permanently lost for motorsports. However, a new operating foundation, the "Stichting Exploitatie Circuit Park", was formed and started work at the realization of the track's reconstruction plans. Circuit Park Zandvoort was born and in the summer of 1989 the track was remodeled to an interim Club Circuit of 2.526 km, while the disposed southern part of the track was used to build a Vendorado Bungalow Park and new premises for the local football and field-hockey clubs.

In 1995, CPZ (Circuit Park Zandvoort) got the "A Status" of the government of the Netherlands and began building an international Grand Prix Circuit. This project was finished in 2001 when, after the track was redesigned to a 4.307 km long circuit and a new pits building was realized (by HPG, the development company of John Hugenholtz Jr., son of the former director), a new grandstand was situated along the long straight. One of the major events that is held at the circuit, along with DTM and A1GP, is the RTL Masters of Formula 3, where Formula Three cars of several national racing series compete with each other (originally called Marlboro Masters, before tobacco advertising ban). A noise restriction order was responsible for this event moving to the Belgian Circuit Zolder for 2007 and 2008. However, the race returned to its historical home in 2009.

Circuit Park Zandvoort played host to the first race in the 2006/07 season of A1 Grand Prix from 29 September–1 October 2006. On 21 August 2008, the official A1GP site reported that the 2008/09 season's first race has moved from the Mugello Circuit, Italy to Zandvoort on 4–5 October 2008 due to the delay in the building the new chassis for the new race cars. The Dutch round moved to TT Circuit Assen in 2010. A1GP bankrupted before its fifth season and the Dutch round was replaced with Superleague Formula.

In November 2018 reported that Formula One Management (FOM) had invited the owners of the Zandvoort race track to make a proposal to stage a Grand Prix race in 2020. In March 2019, it was confirmed that a letter of intent had been signed between Zandvoort and FOM to stage the Dutch Grand Prix, dependent on private funding being secured to cover the cost of hosting the race. A deadline of 31 March 2019 was set for a final decision to be made. On 14 May 2019 it was confirmed that Zandvoort would host the Dutch Grand Prix for 2020 and beyond for a duration of at least three years, with the option to host another two years beyond that.

Several alterations were made to the track by to bring it up to date with F1 standards, including adding banking to turn 14 (Arie Luyendijkbocht) and turn 3 (Hugenholtzbocht), but the layout as a whole remained the same. The municipality of Zandvoort invested four million euros into the infrastructure around the circuit to improve the accessibility to the track. On 29 August 2019, the 2020 Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort was included as the fifth race on the provisional schedule, listed on 3 May 2020, between the Chinese Grand Prix and Spanish Grand Prix. The 2020 scheduled appearance was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however F1 racing did finally return to the circuit on 5 September 2021. On 17 September 2019, it was announced that Zandvoort would host the FIA Formula 2 Championship and FIA Formula 3 Championship, replacing the series' support races at Circuit Paul Ricard.

The circuit

The circuit gained popularity because of its fast, sweeping corners such as Scheivlak as well as the "Tarzanbocht" (Tarzan corner) hairpin at the end of the start/finish straight. Tarzanbocht is the most famous corner in the circuit. Since there is a camber in the corner, it provides excellent overtaking opportunities. It is possible to pass around the outside as well as the easier inside lane. This corner is reportedly named after a local character who had earned the nickname of Tarzan and only wanted to give up his vegetable garden in the dunes if the track's designers named a nearby corner after him. On the other hand, many different stories about Tarzan Corner are known.

The circuit design has been modified and altered several times:

• 1948–1971: length 4.193 km
• 1972–1979: length 4.226 km
• 1980–1989: length 4.252 km
• 1990–1998: length 2.526 km
• 1999–2019: length 4.307 km
• 2020–present: length 4.259 km

| File:Circuit Park Zandvoort-1948.svg | Grand Prix Circuit (1948–1971) | File:Circuit Park Zandvoort-1973.svg | Grand Prix Circuit (1972–1979) | File:Circuit Park Zandvoort-1980.svg | Grand Prix Circuit (1980–1989) | File:Circuit Park Zandvoort-1989.svg | Grand Prix Circuit (1990–1998) | File:Circuit Park Zandvoort-1999.svg | Grand Prix Circuit (1999–2019) | File:Zandvoort Circuit.png | Grand Prix Circuit (2020–present)

The corners are named as follows (the numbers correspond to the present map, starting at the start/finish line):

• Tarzan corner (1)
• Gerlach corner (2)
• Hugenholtz corner (3)
• Hunserug (4)
• Nameless corner (5)
• Slotemaker corner (6)
• Scheivlak (7)
• Masters corner (formerly Marlboro corner) (8)
• Nameless corner (formerly Renault corner) (9)
• CM.com corner (formerly the Vodafone corner) (10)
• Hans Ernst corner 1 and Hans Ernst corner 2 (formerly Audi S corners) (11 + 12)
• Nameless corner (formerly Kumho corner) (13)
• Arie Luyendyk corner (formerly Bos Uit corner) (14)

The elevation difference is 8.9 m.

Turns 3 and 13/14 are extremely cambered corners; turn 3 has a 19-degree bank while turns 13/14 have an 18-degree bank.

Events

; Current

• April: Supercar Challenge Voorjaarsraces
• May: Formula Regional European Championship, Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, ADAC GT Masters, Porsche Carrera Cup Germany, Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux
• June:, FIA Masters Historic Formula One Championship Historic Grand Prix Zandvoort (since 2012), Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux
• July: F4 British Championship Zandvoort Summer Trophy, Porsche Sprint Challenge Benelux
• August: Formula One Dutch Grand Prix, F1 Academy, Porsche Supercup
• September: GT World Challenge Europe, GT2 European Series, GT4 European Series, Porsche Carrera Cup France
• October: Supercar Challenge Trophy of the Dunes, Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux

; Former

• 24H Series
  • 12H Zandvoort (2014–2016)
• A1 Grand Prix (2006–2008)
• ADAC Formel Masters (2012, 2014)
• ADAC Formula 4 (2016, 2019, 2021–2022)
• ADAC GT4 Germany (2019, 2021–2023)
• ADAC TCR Germany Touring Car Championship (2016–2019)
• Alpine Elf Cup (2022, 2025)
• ATS Formel 3 Cup (2002, 2012)
• BMW M1 Procar Championship (1979–1980)
• BOSS GP (2002, 2006, 2009–2014, 2017)
• British Formula One Championship (1978–1979)
• British Formula 3 International Series (1971–1973, 1984–1987, 1996)
• British GT Championship (2013)
• Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft (1978–1979)
• EFDA Nations Cup (1991, 1994, 1998)
• Eurocup-3 (2023–2024)
• European Formula 5000 Championship (1969–1970, 1973–1975)
• European Formula Two Championship (1967–1968, 1979–1980)
• European Touring Car Championship (1963–1975, 1977–1979)
• European Truck Racing Cup (1990)
• Ferrari Challenge Europe (2000, 2002)
• FIA European Formula 3 Championship (1976–1983)
• FIA Formula 2 Championship
  • Zandvoort Formula 2 round (2022–2023)
• FIA Formula 3 Championship (2021–2022)
• FIA Formula 3 European Championship (2011–2013, 2015–2018)
• FIA GT3 European Championship (2011)
• Formula 3 Euro Series (2003–2012)
• Formula BMW ADAC (2002–2007)
• Formula BMW Europe (2009–2010)
• Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup (2006–2013)
• Formula Renault Eurocup (2000, 2020)
• Formula Volkswagen Germany (2001)
• French F4 Championship (2020)
• French Formula Three Championship (1978)
• GB3 Championship (2023–2025)
• International Formula 3000 (1985)
• Interserie (1975)
• Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe (2019, 2021)
• RTL GP Masters of F3 (1991–2006, 2009–2016)
• Prototype Cup Germany (2023–2024)
• Racecar Euro Series (2011)
• SMP F4 Championship (2016)
• Super Tourenwagen Cup (1994)
• TCR Europe Touring Car Series (2021)
• World Touring Car Championship
  • FIA WTCC Race of the Netherlands (2007)
• World Touring Car Cup
  • FIA WTCR Race of the Netherlands (2018–2019)
• W Series (2021)

Lap records

The official lap record for the current circuit layout is 1:11.097, set by Lewis Hamilton driving for Mercedes in the 2021 Dutch Grand Prix. The all-time fastest official track record set during a race weekend for the current Grand Prix Circuit layout is 1:08.662, set by Oscar Piastri driving for McLaren during qualifying in the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix. As of August 2025, the fastest official race lap records at the Circuit Zandvoort are listed as:

Fatal accidents

In the history of the circuit, several fatal accidents have occurred.

Cycling and running competitions

Motor racer Willy Koppen was the first woman to participate in motor trials in the early fifties on the circuit. In August 1959 the UCI Road World Championships men's race was held at Zandvoort. André Darrigade of France won the 180 mi race, Tom Simpson (Britain) was 4th. In 1994 a large interregional amateur race cycling race was organised by HSV De Kampioen in Haarlem. Since 2008, the course has been used as the venue for the Runner's World Zandvoort Circuit Run, a 5-kilometre road running competition. The 2010 edition of the race attracted Lornah Kiplagat, a multiple world champion, who won the ladies 5 km race.

The Cycling Zandvoort 24h race was first held on 25–26 May 2013. It is open for public for soloists and teams up to 8 riders. A 6-hours was added to the event in 2016. On 13./14. June 2015 (12:00) the Cycling Zandvoort – 24 hour race over 4307-m-laps took place.

References

References

1. (1 December 2025). "LIST OF FIA LICENSED CIRCUITS UPDATED ON : 2025-12-01". [[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile]].
2. "Geschiedenis circuit".
3. (18 July 2025). "Mascot Workwear Becomes The Naming Partner of Circuit Zandvoort".
4. (5 October 2010). "Grand Designs: John Hugenholtz". Grand Prix View.
5. Diepraam, Mattijs. (Summer 2001). "The quintessential race track in the dunes". forix.autosport.com.
6. "Motor Racing Programme Covers: 1948". The Programme Covers Project.
7. (23 January 2009). "Masters to return to Zandvoort". [[Autosport]].
8. (10 August 2009). "Dutch delight". a1gp.com.
9. (2 November 2018). "Organisers invite Zandvoort to draw up Formula 1 Grand Prix plan".
10. Smith, Luke. (4 March 2019). "Zandvoort only option for F1 Dutch GP return".
11. (14 May 2019). "Dutch GP at Zandvoort confirmed for F1 2020 after 35-year absence".
12. (28 January 2020). "Interview: Jarno Zaffelli, Circuit Zandvoort Designer".
13. (22 November 2019). "Zandvoort F1 banking will be twice as steep as Indianapolis in 2020". [[Autosport]].
14. "Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix to return at Zandvoort from 2020 - Formula 1®".
15. (14 May 2019). "Circuit Zandvoort kondigt terugkeer Formule 1 aan".
16. "Record-breaking 22-race F1 calendar set for 2020".
17. "Organisers confirm Dutch Grand Prix will not be held in 2020 {{!}} Formula 1®".
18. "Organisers confirm Dutch GP will go ahead in September as planned, with two-thirds capacity crowd".
19. "2020 calendars confirmed for Formula 2 and Formula 3".
20. "FIA Formula 2 Championship season calendar revealed".
21. "FIA Formula 3 Championship 2020 season calendar confirmed".
22. (n.d.). "Circuit Park Zandvoort, The Netherlands". a1gp.com.
23. (August 2025). "Formula 1 Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2025 – Media Kit". [[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile]].
24. "Historic Grand Prix Zandvoort".
25. "Lap Records At CM.COM Circuit Zandvoort".
26. (14 October 2023). "Fanatec GT WorldChEU pwrd by AWS Sprint Cup Round 10 GB3 Championship Race 2 Result".
27. (8 June 2025). "2025 Formula Regional European Zandvoort (Race 2)".
28. (24 June 2023). "2023 DTM Zandvoort - ADAC Prototype Cup Germany - Race 1 - Result List".
29. (5 September 2020). "Aston Martin Masters Endurance Legends: Final results Race 1".
30. (8 June 2024). "2024 DTM Zandvoort Race 1 Statistics".
31. (6 September 2020). "Aston Martin Masters Endurance Legends: Final results Race 2".
32. (10 July 2021). "2021 ADAC Formula 4 Zandvoort Race 1 Statistics".
33. (18 May 2025). "2025 GT WorldChEU powered by AWS Sprint Cup Round 3 - GT2 European Series powered by Pirelli - Race 2 - Final Classification".
34. (27 August 2023). "Formula 1 Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2023 - Zandvoort - Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup Race 2 Provisional Classification after 16 Laps - 68.083 km".
35. (6 September 2020). "Masters Historic Sports Cars: Final results Race".
36. (17 May 2025). "2025 GT WorldChEU powered by AWS Sprint Cup Round 3 - GT4 European Series powered by Rafa Racing Club - Race 1 - Result List".
37. (19 June 2021). "Fanatec GTWC pwrd by AWS Sprint Cup round 4 - TCR Europe - Race 1 - Circuit Zandvoort".
38. (19 June 2022). "2022 Alpine Elf Europa Cup Zandvoort Race 2 Statistics".
39. (6 September 2020). "Historic Grand Prix 2020 - Historische Monoposto Racing".
40. (6 September 2020). "Historic Grand Prix 2020 - Historic Endurance Cup".
41. (5 September 2020). "Historic Grand Prix 2020 - NKRECO GGTC".
42. (6 September 2020). "Historic Grand Prix 2020 - HTGT".
43. (14 October 2023). "2023 Fanatec GT WorldChEU powered by AWS Sprint Cup Round 10 - Clio Cup Series - Race 1 - Provisional Result".
44. (5 September 2020). "Historic Grand Prix 2020 - Masters Gentlemen Drivers".
45. (19 August 2017). "2017 FIA Formula 3 European Championship Zandvoort Race 1 Statistics".
46. (5 June 2006). "2006 Formula Renault Northern Cup Zandvoort (Race 1)".
47. (11 August 2019). "2019 ADAC Formula 4 Zandvoort Race 2 Statistics".
48. (23 September 2001). "2001 German Formula Volkswagen - Round 7: Zandvoort, 23rd September".
49. (18 August 2018). "2018 Porsche Cup Deutschland Zandvoort (Race 1)".
50. (8 August 2004). "Euro GT Zandvoort 2004".
51. (5 May 2012). "2012 Zandvoort Formel ADAC - Result List Rennen 1".
52. (14 June 2009). "2009 Formula BMW Europe Zandvoort (Race 1)".
53. (21 April 2014). "2014 Paasraces - Formula Renault 1.6 NEC Junior - Race 2".
54. (6 May 2007). "WTCC 2007 » Zandvoort Round 3 Results".
55. (17 July 1994). "STW Cup 1994 » Zandvoort Round 4 Results".
56. (17 July 1994). "ADAC GT Zandvoort 1994".
57. (21 March 1993). "1993 Openingsraces - Zandvoort Interim Circuit, Netherlands".
58. (24 August 1985). "1985 Zandvoort F3000".
59. (8 June 1981). "1981 Zandvoort European F3".
60. (20 July 1980). "1980 Zandvoort F2".
61. (31 August 1980). "1980 Zandvoort BMW Procar".
62. (15 July 1979). "1979 Zandvoort F2".
63. (3 June 1974). "1974 Zandvoort F5000".
64. (24 August 1975). "Interserie Zandvoort 1975".
65. (27 March 1978). "1978 Zandvoort European F3".
66. (26 August 1979). "1979 Zandvoort BMW Procar".
67. (11 August 1974). "1974 Zandvoort ETCC".
68. (19 April 1970). "1970 Zandvoort F5000".
69. (28 July 1968). "1968 Zandvoort F2".
70. (31 August 1969). "1969 French Formula 3 Zandvoort Trophée".
71. (28 August 1971). "1971 Zandvoort ETCC - Round 10".
72. (1 September 1963). "1963 Zandvoort Trophy Junior".
73. (31 August 1969). "1969 Zandvoort ETCC - Round 15".
74. "8W – When? – 1973 Dutch GP". Forix.
75. The Straits Times, 18 September 1979, p.26
76. "Driver dies after Historic F1 crash at Zandvoort".
77. "World Championships Road Race".
78. [http://www.rwcircuitrun.nl/ Runner's World Zandvoort Circuit Run] {{Webarchive. link. (7 September 2013 . Runner's World Zandvoort Circuit Run. Retrieved on 28 March 2010.)
79. link. (25 October 2012 . [[IAAF]]. Retrieved on 2010-03-28.)
80. "Buitenland".
81. "Result of Cycling Zandvoort - 24-uurs race 13 - 14 June 2015".