Zandvoort final corner to be steeper than Indy banking!

40

Zandvoort will soon be pressing ahead with its planned changes to update its circuit and infrastructure to F1 standards in time for next year's Dutch Grand Prix.

The event - scheduled for May 3 2020 - will return to the F1 calendar for the first time since 1985.

But bringing Grand Prix racing back to Zandvoort's famous dunes entails a massive amount of work, the bulk of which is still in the building permit phase with local authorities.

Dutch GP boss Jan Lammers admitted that construction crews will be on a tight schedule but the former F1 driver dispelled worries that the circuit won't be ready on time.

Singapore GP organisers monitoring 'unhealthy' smoke haze issue

"There is still a lot of work to be done, but we are working hard on that," Lammers told Motorsport.com.

"And just like Max [Verstappen] doesn't wonder if he can handle a Grand Prix, we think we can handle all the work. So I think we're going to surprise a lot of people with the actual event next year.

"At the end of September you will see a lot of action here already. And at the beginning of October this will continue, so before we set up the Christmas tree a lot of work has already been done.

"All the plans are ready and from an architectural point of view it is something that our partners can easily carry out with their expertise. So next year at this time there will be a beautiful circuit here."

The FIA has yet to give its formal approval to Zandvoort's circuit revisions, with changes designed to accommodate modern F1 cars and to potentially enhance the racing.

"We expect to add to the circuit at least two or three overtaking opportunities," Zandvoort circuit director Robert van Overdijk told Allsportradio.

The most spectacular modification will be the transformation of the final corner, named after Dutch driver and two-time Indy 500 winner Arie Luyendijk.

The long right-hand sweep which leads back on to the main straight will feature an 18-degree banked profile, steeper than at Indy!

"A banking is unique," added van Overdijk. "Nowhere in the world can you find a circuit with this layout and a banking of eighteen degrees.

"There will be a height difference of three and a half meters between the bottom and the top of the banking.

"Everyone is enormously looking forward to this, including the drivers."

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.