3 days of classic car races in the dunes of Zandvoort
The race track of Zandvoort has been in the news quite a few times the last year. First there was the rumour that the track in the dunes of Zandvoort would possibly host another F1 race. The rumors kept growing. At different social media channels, a discussion span wether or not the Zandvoort race-track would be suited for a modern F1 Grand-Prix. Finally there was a decision, and yes, there will be another F1 race in Zandvoort, May 2th 2020. You better book your hotel in the neighbourhood now. But for us, far more important was the Zandvoort Historic GP. As usual there was an action packed program, and Porsche announced the presence of legendary race-cars and drivers.
Weather conditions at the Zandvoort Historic GP were quite strange. Friday, the complete day was characterized by heavy winds. Saturday the wind slowed down. Instead, some sun and a cloudy sky were the part of the visitors and competitors. However in the early afternoon, the races and demos were tortured by a torrential rain falling down. Sunday started with an open , rather blue sky. But that changed rather soon, and the rest of the day, both dry and wet tracks were the part of the different race series.
The Zandvoort program
The Zandvoort Historic GP is very much oriented to one-seaters, and has series like the Fia Masters Historic Formula 1, The Fia Lurani Trophy, Historic F2, Historic Formula 3 and Historic Grand Prix Cars. In 2019, the Zandvoort Historic GP celebrates the 100th anniversary of the birth of Dries van der Lof and Jan Flinterman. Both were the very first Dutch after-war GP racers. And both Dries van der Lof and Jan Flinterman race their first (and only) Grand Prix race in Zandvoort at the 1952 Dutch GP. Reason enough to have a Revival of the 1952 Dutch Grand Prix on the program. Almost the entire field of participants of the 1952 Dutch Grand Prix is represented by the cars of the time. It is noteworthy to tell you that with Alexander and Shirley van der Lof the son and granddaughter of Dries van der Lof were participating in the Revival of the 1952 Dutch Grand Prix too.
Porsches at the Zandvoort Historic GP
As we told you in our preview to the Zandvoort Historic GP, Porsche brought some extra-ordinary cars to the Netherlands. One of them was the Porsche 718/2 Formula 2 car. So did the Prototyp Museum of Hamburg. Expect for the Porsche Race Car Classic event in 2011 in California, I’ve never seen 2 of there extremely rare cars (only 5 built) at one spot. What made it even more special, is the history of the car of the Prototyp Museum. This was the car that was part of the Ecurie Maarsbergen of Carel Godin de Beaufort, and the car he suffered the fatal accident in at the Nürburgring in 1964.
Gijs van Lennep en Harm Lagaaij were the dutch celebrities that had the honor to drive the Porsche demo. Jürgen Barth completed the trio. Gijs van Lennep took the wheel of the Porsche 718/2 with a large smile. We noticed Jürgen Barth at the wheel of the Porsche 935/77. Good to know that this was the car that Rolf Stommelen and Manfred Schurti drove in the 1977 Le Mans 24 Hours. 1977 was the year that Jürgen Barth won the race, sharing the wheel of a Porsche 936/77 with Hurley Haywood and Jacky Ickx.
Unfortunately the announced celebration of the Porsche 914 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Porsche 914 seemed forgotten. At least we didn’t notice anything special, except for the Porsche 914 that was in the Porsche village. The surprise that Porsche eventually would bring to the Zandvoort Historic GP went unnoticed for us. We hoped for the new Porsche 935, but unfortunately, that was not the case.
Picture gallery Zandvoort Historic GP 2019
Pictures by Vintage Race Photography
More information about next year’s edition at the homepage of Historic Grand Prix.
