Circuit Zandvoort old Layout 1948 - 1989 (Old Zandvoort Full Lap with Abandoned Sections)

In this Circuits of the past video, we show you where the original layout of the Zandvoort Circuit used to be. The Zandvoort Circuit is the home of the Dutch Formula 1 Grand Prix.

We start our lap on the start/finish straight of the current track. This part of the layout is still original as it opened in 1948. Only the track has been modernized.

Before the permanent Zandvoort circuit opened there was already a street circuit in the famous Dutch seaside resort. But more about that in this video:    • Zandvoort 1939 Street Circuit  

The first corner at Zandvoort is the famous Tarzan Corner. Why this corner has been named to Tarzan? Well, there are differnt stories about that. You can read them in the article on the website:
https://www.circuitsofthepast.com/cor... (English)
https://www.circuitsofthepast.nl/name... (Nederlands)

The Tarzan Corner is a hard braking point at Zandvoort and famous for it’s many spectacular overtaking actions.

After the Tarzan Corner comes the Gerlach Corner, a fast right-hander which is very tricky in the wet.

Next comes the Hugenholtz Corner, named after the former circuit director John Hugenholtz who also designed circuits like Suzuka, Nivelles and the Motodrom section of Hockenheim.

In 2020 the Hugenholtz Corner has been changed for the return of Formula 1. To create a wider entrance to the paddock they move dit to the inside. As a compensation they increased the banking.

After the Hugenholtz Corner comes the most exciting part of the Zandvoort circuit. A full throttle blast through 3 sweeping corners, with considerable elevation changes.

Than comes the Scheivlak Corner, the most demanding corner of Zandvoort. Fortunately this section is still original. However, in the 1990’s this part was left abandoned!

In 1989 the municipal of Zandvoort, owner of the circuit ground, sold a part of the circuit to built there a holiday resort. Those day’s politicians actually wanted to get rid of the circuit.

However, circuit director Hans Ernst managed to get money to build a new section so that the circuit could remain operational. From now they used a 2.5 kilometers short layout called the Interim Circuit.

A part of the old track was demolished for the construction of the holiday resort, while the other unused parts were left abandoned.

After the Scheivlak was the fast left right combination named Hondenvlak. In the late 1970’s this section became controversial because of it’s high speeds.

For the 1979 Dutch Grand Prix they built a temporary chicane in the second kink. In 1980 there was a permanent solution and the fast left-right was changed into a chicane named Marlboro Corner. Today this part is a golf course.

After Hondenvlak came a notorious part of the old Zandvoort track. The fast kink at Tunnel Oost, which is Dutch for Tunnel East.

This was the site of some terrible incidents during the Dutch Grand Prix. First in 1970 Piers Courage died here after a crash in the fast kink at Tunnel Oost.

In 1973 Roger Williamson died at the same corner after he crashed on the exit of the Hondenvlak. His car overturned and came to a stop at Tunnel East. Then the car caught fire and Roger Williamson died in the flames.

Today Tunnel Oost is gone. It was already demolished during the 1990’s to prevent noughty boys to race on the abandoned part of the track.

After Tunnel Oost was a short straight leading to the fast right/left combination named Bos In. This section is now a holiday resort.

Originally the track ran through the woods here. However, in the 1960’s the forest has been cut down because a small beetle caused wood rot.

For the 1973 F1 Grand Prix the track needed a major renovation. So the fast Bos In corner was changed into a chicane named Panorama Corner.

Until 2020 there was a remain of the final corner on the parking of the current Zandvoort circuit. However, for the 2020 renovations for Formula 1 this remain has been demolished.

Until 2019 there was also a service road following the old track. But for the new banked version of the Arie Luyendijk Corner this has also been demolished.

More about the history of the Zandvoort Circuit:
https://www.circuitsofthepast.com/zan... (English)
https://www.circuitsofthepast.nl/circ... (Nederlands)

Special thanks to: CM.com Circuit Zandvoort, Open Golf the Dunes Zandvoort and Center Parks Zandvoort for allow me to film on ttheir property.

Special thanks too at Rob Petersen for the historic pictures from the 1970's and 1980's .

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

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