Formula 1 is returning to the Netherlands after a 34 year absence with the 31st Dutch Grand Prix, set to take place at The Circuit of Zandvoort.
Situated not far from Amsterdam, Zandvoort is a major beach resort in the Netherlands. In the coming months, the local race track will be rebuilt with the help of the town council and several other partners, in order to meet the standards laid out by the FIA.
Three year run guaranteed
As per the signed agreement, the Dutch Grand Prix will be part of the Formula 1 calendar for at least three years, starting next season.
The inaugural Dutch Grand Prix was held in 1952, when Ferrari’s Alberto Ascari crossed the finish line first, on his way to winning the world championship. Apart from him, there were 19 other winners, 12 of which ended up champions. To this day, Jim Clark holds the record with four wins to his name.
Also read: 2020 F1 Brazilian Grand Prix Moving From Sao Paulo To Rio
“I am pleased to see that Zandvoort will be part of the proposed calendar for the 2020 FIA Formula One World Championship, and thankful for the hard work of Formula 1 to bring the sport back to the Netherlands,” stated FIA president, Jean Todt. “It is a circuit with a long and impressive history of competition and is a great challenge for drivers, and with the popularity of Max Verstappen I’m sure there will be a huge number of fans in attendance. There is now a lot of preparation needed to bring the circuit up to the required safety standards to host a Formula 1 race, and we will work towards this together with Formula 1, KNAF – the Dutch ASN – and the circuit organization.”
The 2020 Dutch Grand Prix joins the Vietnamese Grand Prix as a new entry in next year’s Formula 1 calendar, along with the Brazilian Grand Prix reportedly shifting from Sao Paulo to a new venue in the Deodoro neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro.
