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Situated just 20 miles West of Amsterdam, and 240 miles from Calais, the circuit at Zandvoort once held the Dutch F1 GP until 1986 and was considered by some to be 'the greatest circuit for racing that F1 has ever known'. Still to cut my F1 teeth, I can’t comment on that, but I can say that’s it a damn fine track for a more humble car, such as the Elise.
Nestled in the sand dunes adjacent to the beach, Zandvoort packs an unlikely amount of gradient in a country not known for its peaks. At 2.6 miles, the circuit is a challenging mix of hairpins, blind crests and very fast sections.
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Exit the pits and you’re quickly into the first turn, Tarzan, a 180 degree large radius medium speed corner. The gravel trap here is nicely banked, and you realise why when you approach the corner on a flying lap, as it’s a very long straight and you’ll be close to the fastest you’re car will go on a circuit.
Out of Tarzan, a short straight, and then a steady climb uphill through a gentle left, quickly followed by a tighter right (Gerlach) on the brow of the hill. This is a nice sequence of bends that takes some nerve, as the car is un-weighted as you go over the brow, just as you’re turning and then trying to get the car settled as you descend the hill, ready for a nice firm brake for Hugenholtz.
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Hugenholtz is a fairly tight left-hand hairpin and is not a corner to out-brake yourself on, as there’s barely 6 inches of run-off (and that’s being generous) before the tyre wall and imposing concrete barrier.
Amazed you’ve shed all that speed and successfully negotiated the hairpin, you immediately start the long climb up kinking left, then right towards Rob Slotermaker bend. This is a very fast section of track, which can very likely be taken flat. But equally likely it’s a section you won’t want to take flat until you’ve got a good few laps under your belt. Particularly the final left kink which is a little tighter and steeper than the previous section.
Now into Rob Slotermaker, a right hand bend, right on the crest of hill, and completely blind for the next section. Certainly one for the brave, as once again the car is un-weighted just when you don’t want it to be, with the added challenge of not being able to see what you’re aiming at, nor your braking point for Scheivlak. I love it !
Scheivlak is a downhill right-hander, slightly more than 90 degrees, and for me, one of those corners that you exit from thinking “I’m sure I could have gone faster”. You’re now onto a short straight, climbing up, then down towards Masters, and with it’s *very* wide exit is another corner you often feel could have been faster.
Out of Masters, is quickly on the brakes for Renault, a tighter right hander that leads into Vodafone.
Then a Longish straight, braking downhill for the Audi Chicane, a right “flick” into a 180 left hander (watch that run off !)
Short straight onto Kumho and Arie Luyendijk, two corners close enough that they merge into one, with Arie Luyendijk being a particularly ballsy corner that’s very fast and gives you that “will I, won’t I” feeling as you approach the exit and onto the long start finish straight.
Camping
Some of our members have previously stayed at Camping De Branding being perfectly positioned between the circuit and the beach.
Cost is 13 euro's a night for a small (4m square) tent for 2 people. However, because this is a prime tourist venus in the peak season they will require you to pay for 3 nights - this isn't a problem as it will still only work out to 39 euro's for 3 nights. Most people will head out Friday evening and camp fri & sat nights so £14 a night for 2 people is very cheap. They also add 1 euro p.p.p.day tourist tax and 5.25 euro per day parking if required. Facilities are excellent.
They also have some 4 berth huts but these need to be reserved for a week at a time and cost 280 euro's (£198) but again even if you are only staying for 2 nights this would only work out to £25 per person per night if 4 of you share - stay
longer and it's a very cheap option.
Words kindly provided by Phillip Smoker PhilS)
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