Images and text by Marcel Hundscheid / Speed-O-Graphica.com
Sit back and enjoy our comprehensive coverage of the 6th edition of the Historic Grand Prix Zandvoort. We report about this ever growing event in the Netherlands, featuring classic racing cars from the 1920s until the eighties, for the very first time.
During the first weekend of September, Circuit Zandvoort celebrated the rich history of motorsport gathered into the 6th edition of the Historic Grand Prix Zandvoort. Beautiful weather conditions, especially on Saturday and Sunday and a wide array of cars from the 20s and 30s into Formula 1 cars from the 70s and 80s and almost everything between made for a brilliant weekend.
Spectators found their way to one of the few old school race tracks in Europe, situated in the dunes near the North Sea coastline. The track was inaugurated on August 7th 1948 and from that date until now Zandvoort hosted Formula 1, Formula 2, DTM, A1 GP and the Masters of Formula 3 to name just a few events from its rich history.
Over the three days a packed programme was presented, including 16 races and 12 demonstrations. The programme featured Formula 1 cars from the FIA Masters Historic Sports Car Championship, former Le Mans prototypes, sports cars and GTs from the FIA Masters Historic Sports Car Championship, touring cars and GTs from the Dutch NK GTTC, Masters Pre-66 Touring Cars and Pre-War Sports Cars. Other series included Classic F3, Triumph Competition & British HTGT, the Historic F3 1000cc European Trophy, the Masters Gentleman Drivers, as well as Pre 1961 and Pre 1966 Grand Prix Cars.
The organizers managed to create very interesting demonstration runs including the Brabham-BMW BT52, Porsche 917K, Porsche 936/77, Porsche 908/3, Benetton B193 and much more.
Exactly 50 years ago the three-liter Cosworth DFV engine debuted at Zandvoort during the Dutch Formula 1 Grand Prix in a Lotus 49, driven by the legendary Jim Clark. To celebrate the occasion the organizers managed to display the original Lotus 49, driven on track by its present owner Chris McAlister. Jim Clark scored victory back in 1967 at Zandvoort in this particular Cosworth-powered Lotus 49. Over the weekend, Clive Chapman, son of Lotus-founder Colin Chapman and his Classic Team Lotus looked after the car.
Over 350 cars participated in the different races and demonstrations with drivers from 20 countries including the Netherlands, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Bosnia Herzegovina, Brazil, Denmark, England, Ireland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxemburg, Monaco, Romania, Spain, Sweden and the United States.
Classic F3
On Friday the qualifying-sessions were scheduled including different demonstrations. First race of the weekend was Classic F3, including 33 cars.
Tom Bradshaw drove his Argo JM6 to pole position, but due to very bad luck he couldn’t participate in the race. The battle for the lead was fought between Thomas Warken from Germany and Monaco resident Valerio Leone, who fought his way back towards the top two after a bad start. Leone managed to close the gap and was in striking distance as he lost control in the Arie Luyendijk-curve. From that point in the race Warken drove straight to victory in his Ralt RT3. Valerio Leone’s son Davide finished second in his Ralt RT3, as Michael Ringström scored the final spot on the podium in a March 753.
Thomas Warken scored double victory on Sunday winning the second race of the weekend in front of Tom Bradshaw and Michael Ringström.
FIA Masters Historic F1 Championship
Second race of the weekend was the FIA Masters Historic F1 Championship, featuring 19 classic single seaters from the golden years of Formula 1. Briton Martin Stretton drove his Tyrrell 012 to the pole in 1:46.473. During the race Stretton took the lead in front of Michael Lyons as a severe accident occurred in the Arie Luyendijk-curve. French driver David Ferrer lost control of his March 701 due to a mechanical failure and crashed heavily. The race was red-flagged after just a single lap. Marshalls, security and medical staff were almost immediately on site. The driver was resuscitated and transferred to a hospital for further treatment.
The second race on Sunday became a prey for Stretton as Lyons suffered from a blistered tyre. Stretton drove a dominant race and crossed the finish line 11 seconds earlier in his Tyrrell 012 than Michael Lyons in his Williams FW07B. Max Smith-Hilliard finished third in a Fittipaldi F5A.
Triumph Competition & British HTGT
Next on track were 37 cars from the Triumph Competition and British HTGT including lots of different Triumphs, MGs, TVRs and a Marcos. Yannick Szcygiel claimed pole position in his Triumph TR4.
Belgian Marcel van Mulders (Triumph TR4a) fought a very close battle with German Christian Marx in a Triumph TR4a. In the end it was van Mulders who crossed the finish line first, just 0.001 of a second in front of Marx. Briton Robert Hamilton finished third in a Marcos 1800.
Porsche demo
Demonstrations turned out to be very popular. Porsche was present with iconic cars from the past. Amongst them was a Porsche 917K in Gulf livery, chassis number 015/035, the car that won the Spa 1000 kms back in 1971 with Pedro Rodriguez and Jackie Oliver. Another beauty from the Porsche museum was 936/77, the sister-car from the Le Mans 24 Hours winner back in 1977. Porsche Motorsport also presented a 908/3 and a RS Spyder from 2006.
NK GTTC
No less than 54 cars filled the grid for the first race of the Dutch NK GTTC championship, featuring lots of different Porsches, Ford Escorts and Capris, Minis, VW Golf GTI, BMWs and many more.
Dutchman Leonard Stolk scored victory in a Porsche Carrera RS as Eric Holthauser finished second in a splendid looking BMW 3.0 CSL. The final spot on the podium went to Dutchman Lex Proper in a Porsche Carrera RS.
HGPCA Pre-61 and Pre-66 Grand Prix Cars
With 33 entries spectators were treated with a beautiful field of classic Grand Prix cars featuring different Lotus, Cooper, Lola, Brabham and a beautiful Talbot Lago to name just a few.
During qualifying it was Peter Horsman who drove his Lotus 18/21 P1 from 1961 to the pole. Just 0.3 of a second slower was Andy Middlehurst in his gorgeous Lotus 25 R4 from 1962. Middlehurst got the better start and drove to victory, as Horsman finished second. William Nuthall drove his Cooper T53 to a third place in the final standings.
The second race on Sunday was won by Horsman after an exciting battle for the lead. Horsman crossed the finish line first just 0.3 of a second ahead from Middlehurst. William Nuthall scored his second podium finish of the weekend by finishing third.
Force One Demo
Next on track were the Formula 1 cars from the Force F1 Legends, including the former Michael Schumacher Benetton B192, a former Eddie Cheever Arrows A10 from 1987 and an Arrows A10B from 1988 driven during that period by Derrick Warwick.
Also present was a former Takuma Sato Jordan EJ12 and a Dallara F191 from 1991, nowadays driven and owned by Terry Sayles. Another former Grand Prix car was the ex-Andrea de Cesaris Minardi F186. The car was very unreliable and de Cesaris finished just a single race.
Christian Vanderpleyn designed the Coloni C3 for the 1989 Formula 1 season, driven during that particular year by Roberto Moreno and Pierre-Henri Raphanel. During the demo the car was driven by Dutchman Job van Uitert who participates in the Italian F4-championship.
Besides the powerful single seaters there was another remarkable monoposto on track driven by Brazilian Pedro Piquet. In fact he was the son of former F1-driver Nelson Piquet driving the Ralt RT1 Formula 3 that his father drove back in 1979.
Historic F3 1000cc European Trophy
Thirty 1.0-liter F3 cars entered their qualifying session in Zandvoort. Amongst them were March, Brabham, Chevron and Tecno cars to mention a few.
Geffroy Rivet drove his March 703 to a commanding pole. During the race, however, it was Francois Derossi who claimed victory in his Chevron B17, followed by Steve Smith in a Chevron B15 and Thierry Gallo in a Tecno F3.
The second race on Sunday was won by Steve Smith, as Gallo finished second. Mark Pangborn crossed the finish line in third driving a Brabham BT28.
BMW Demo
BMW Classic was present with an impressive range of cars including Nelson Piquet’s championship-winning Brabham BT52 Formula 1 car. Gordon Murray designed the BT52 for the 1983 F1 championship, powered by the BMW M12/13 turbocharged 1.499 cc engine that generated around 800 hp in qualifying trim.
Piquet became the first driver to win the F1 World Championship with a turbo engine. Former F1 driver and Le Mans-winner Jan Lammers drove the car over the weekend during the several demos. Other classic BMWs included a 2002 ti, and the legendary CSL.
Masters Pre-66 Touring cars
Fifty cars filled the massive grid for the qualifying session of the Masters Pre-66 Touring cars including Marcos GTs, Ford Falcons, Lotus Cortinas, Mini Coopers, Ford Mustangs and lots of other classic beauties.
Dutchman Mark Dols drove his Marcos 1800 GT to the pole followed by the Marcos 1800 GT of Robert Hamilton. The single 19 lap race was won by Mark Dols. Briton Steve Soper drove his Ford Cortina to a second place, 10 seconds after the winning Marcos. Finally Robert Hamilton finished third in his Marcos 1800 GT.
Masters Gentlemen Drivers
Local hero Nicky Pastorelli drove the splendid Roelofs Engineering Ferrari 250 GTO to the pole, in front of the Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe driven by Leo Voyazides and Simon Hadfield.
Pastorelli led the race from start and was initially chased by the Cobras from Andy Willis/Rob Hall and Michael Gans/Andy Wolfe. As Pastorelli had some problems with his brakes, Hadfield could close the gap with the Ferrari-driver as he already passed both the Cobras. With just ten minutes left Hadfield finally passed Pastorelli around the outside of the Hans Ernst’s Bocht and drove to victory. Pastorelli finished second and third place went to Michael Gans and Andy Wolfe.
Pre-War Sport scars
Twelve unique pre-war sports cars entered their qualifying session on Saturday afternoon, including different Bentley, Frazer Nash, Invicta, Alvis, Delahaye and Hotchkiss cars. Charles Gillet drove his 1929 Frazer Nash Supersports to the pole, followed by the Alvis Firefly 4.3 from 1933 driven by Rüdiger Friedrichs. In this order their single race was finished after 17 laps around the Zandvoort race track.
FIA Masters Historic Sports Car Championship
Qualifying for the FIA Masters Historic Sports Car Championship turned out to be a battle between several Lola T210, T212 and T290 sports cars and the thundering Chevy-powered Lola T70s. In the end it was the Lola T210 of Martin Stretton and Mark Piercy who took pole position for the single 60 minute race.
The race on Sunday turned was an eventful one, with several drivers dropping out due to mechanical failure or driver errors. In the end it was the Lola T70 Mk.IIIB of Leo Voyazides and Simon Hadfield coming from the very last spot on the grid to claim victory. Jason Wright finished second in his Lola T70 Mk.IIIB as Paul Gibson drove his T70 Mk.IIIB to the final spot on the podium.
Besides all this three race classic Lotus beauties were on track in the legendary Gold Leaf-livery, including the four-wheel drive Lotus 63, the Lotus 72 and the former Jim Clark Lotus 49.
The Historic Grand Prix Zandvoort has proven to be one of the must see and visit classic motorsports events in Europe. The combination of this old school track, the dunes and the North Sea coast, the iconic cars on and off track creates a unique atmosphere. We’re eagerly counting down the days for the 7th edition of this great event in 2018!
Images and text by Marcel Hundscheid / Speed-O-Graphica.com
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