Photo: dutchgp.com
The unstoppable expansion of Formula 1 continues with a second new venue confirmed for the 2020 calendar: the Zandvoort track in the Netherlands. That means that combined with the addition of the Vietnamese GP next year, the total number of races in Formula 1 could reach 23 next season.
The Zandvoort track is not new to Formula 1, having been used from as far back as 1948. The circuit entered the official World Championship roster in 1952, and teams raced there in 30 Grand Prix races, until 1985, when the company that ran it, CENAV, went out of business.
The companies now in charge with the track, SportVibes and TIG Sports struck a deal this week with Formula 1 to have races return to the Netherlands as of 2020, and for a period of at least three years.
The owners of the track, backed by the local city council, now have only months to rebuild the circuit in order to comply with the FIA Formula 1 regulations. When ready, the track will be 4.3 km-long, one of the shortest of the calendar, and will allow for a 3-stop race strategy.
Formula 1 CEO Chase Carey said in a statement that the addition of the Zandvoort track is in line with the organization’s commitment to expanding the competition to new venues as a means to encourage more people to join the fanbase.
“Next season therefore, we will have a brand new street race that will be held in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi, as well the return to Zandvoort, after an absence of 35 years; a track that has contributed to the popularity of the sport all over the world,” he said.
Presently, Formula 1 has 21 races, starting in Australia and ending its journey in Abu Dhabi. Five of the locations are at the end of their contract - Britain, Germany, Italy, Mexico and Spain – and according to BBC Sport, citing Formula 1 insiders, at least two will not renew their participation, meaning there’s a good chance the number of races will remain the same.
The companies now in charge with the track, SportVibes and TIG Sports struck a deal this week with Formula 1 to have races return to the Netherlands as of 2020, and for a period of at least three years.
The owners of the track, backed by the local city council, now have only months to rebuild the circuit in order to comply with the FIA Formula 1 regulations. When ready, the track will be 4.3 km-long, one of the shortest of the calendar, and will allow for a 3-stop race strategy.
Formula 1 CEO Chase Carey said in a statement that the addition of the Zandvoort track is in line with the organization’s commitment to expanding the competition to new venues as a means to encourage more people to join the fanbase.
“Next season therefore, we will have a brand new street race that will be held in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi, as well the return to Zandvoort, after an absence of 35 years; a track that has contributed to the popularity of the sport all over the world,” he said.
Presently, Formula 1 has 21 races, starting in Australia and ending its journey in Abu Dhabi. Five of the locations are at the end of their contract - Britain, Germany, Italy, Mexico and Spain – and according to BBC Sport, citing Formula 1 insiders, at least two will not renew their participation, meaning there’s a good chance the number of races will remain the same.
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