Zandvoort to keep gravel traps for 2020 Grand Prix
- Published on 19 Jul 2019 09:58
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- By: Fergal Walsh
The Zandvoort Circuit will not be renovated to install run-off areas in place of the current gravel traps for 2020, confirms Jarno Zaffelli, owner of circuit architects Dromo.
Dromo has been tasked with getting Zandvoort into shape for its first Formula 1 Grand Prix in 35 years next year.
Zandvoort is well-known for being a high-speed, tight circuit with grass and gravel traps only a whisper away from the asphalt, making the challenge for the drivers extremely high.
There were fears from fans and the drivers that the track would be changed to accommodate run off areas, the likes of which we have seen in races in recent years, which leaves a driver relatively unpunished if they leave the circuit.
“We are keeping the gravel,” Zaffelli told RaceFans. “This was one of the requests from all the parties.
“FOM requested it because of the heritage of the track. The track [owners] asked for it. And as you know we are more than happy to have gravel instead of asphalt if we think that it is not necessary.”
Zaffelli added that the gravel traps at Zandvoort are "unique", insisting that their steep nature will make it "very difficult to arrive to barriers in many places".
Formula 2 and Formula 3 are also set to race at the Dutch circuit, as the country celebrates its return to the calendar after a long absence.
“The works we start in November,” Zaffelli said of the work needed to be carried out. “We’re planning to finish the work by March.
“So there is plenty of time to do what we need to do on-track and all the rest. We are not concerned about the delivery, only about the weather.”
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Replies (6)
Login to replyf1fan0101
Posts: 1,804
great!
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Great! More stranded cars and DNFs, just what we need to spice it up. Yay!
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
You seriously not excited about this? I expected you'd love this. Retaining heritage, making it more expensive for drivers to make stupid moves, punish stupidity
Ram Samartha
Posts: 1,172
??? Those runoff areas at Paul Ricard were ridiculous, as in a joke. The drivers can't keep to the limits so they need the possibility of punishment. It was a lot more exciting watching VER and VET avoid getting stuck than it was watching them go off the track in France. Gravel traps and curbs all day.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
About as excited as I am playing a round of chess with a sloth. People love the gravel traps apparently, but bear in mind there are actual human beings out there who thinks Madonna's Eurovision performance this year was okay. I just don't see the fun in beached cars. Make it hurt to run off, yes, but having fewer cars participate due to pretty arbitrary punishments (which also cost the teams a lot... A LOT of time and money to recover from). Vet and Ver were lucky, since they didn't get stuck stuck, they were just hindered a bit. I wanna see cars race, not beached whales with liveries.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
And we shan't even mention Paul Ricard, since that track probably owns the book "how to design a very very boring track", probably founded a religion around it and attended the book signing.