Circuit Sandvoort hosts the return of Formula 1 after the summer break for the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix this weekend.
It’s a classic track that first featured in the championship in 1952, and the circuit’s return in 2021 showed its old-school nature, with flowing, undulating corners coming thick and fast.
Whether you remember the old Grands Prix or your first taste of racing in the Netherlands was more recent, we’ve compiled five things to know about the Dutch Grand Prix.
History of the Huygenholts
Of all the sweeping corners Zandvoort has to offer, the Hugenholtzbocht left-hander stands out from the other 13 turns around the 4.259km track.
Its incredibly steep bank at 18.7 degrees sends drivers reeling in the run to Turn 4, and its name honors Dutch track designer Jan Hugenholtz.
Although Hugenholtz was Zandvoort’s director for decades, his involvement in the circuit’s organization was relatively limited.
However, during Hugenholtz’s career he has designed several classic F1 venues including Suzuka, 10-time F1 circuit solder and the stadium section of Hockenheim.
A hat-trick from Alan Jones
Alan Jones, Williams Racing’s first Formula 1 World Champion, won the 1979 Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort.
Alan Williams Racing took his first win at the Hockenheimring a month ago, leading us 1-2 over Clay Regazzoni in the sister FW07.
Two weeks later came Austria, where Allen won by 36-seconds before taking a third consecutive victory at Zandvoort, lapping every driver not on the podium.
A wonderful weekend break
Zandvoort’s coastal location attracts millions of tourists every year to find some seaside sun and fun.
While Formula 1 fans are most interested in the circuit, non-racing fans can enjoy the beach, surfing, cycling, hiking, concerts, restaurants and museums.
Many fans leave their bikes at the beach and choose to arrive by bicycle
The 30-minute journey time between Zandvoort aan Zee and Amsterdam Centraal stations makes for a great day trip from the nation’s capital whenever the temperature rises on a sunny day.
We travel to many iconic destinations, but nowhere else do we have nine miles of golden sand beaches next to the trail.
Different TRS
Formula 1 fans are familiar with the drag-reduction system, which is usually introduced to TRS – a rule that allows following cars to open a flap on their rear wing on some straights.
Zandvoort is a corner-filled roller coaster that still fits two DRS zones within its 14 turns, but the latter is unusual due to its starting location. Before Turn 14.
The final corner, the Luyendykbocht, is one of the three big banked turns, and drivers can tackle it without much difficulty with the aerodynamics of a modern F1 car.
In the first year of the 2021 Dutch GP, the DRS zone started on the pit straight, but the ease with which the drivers handled Luendigbocht allowed them to extend before the corner to overtake Turn 1 and create the rare sight of cars overtaking cars. DRS flaps open.
A mother Victor
Alex Alban’s only F1 debut to race under the Thai flag was a race winner at Circuit Sandvoort before the F1 World Championship.
Prince Bira competed in the 1948 Zandvoort Grand Prix, which consisted of two 24-lap heats followed by a 40-lap race, and took pole position for heat 2.
In the race, Prince Bira’s Maserati 4CL was plagued by engine problems, which forced the Thai driver to avoid the race at full throttle, but he took the early lead from P4 starting position.
Prince Bira withstood pressure from Tony Roald’s Alfa Romeo.
The official classification puts just 0.1 seconds between each car and reports that the Pyra’s engine roars up the line as it doesn’t risk changing gears to avoid speed.
