Zandvoort to host a Grand Prix again?

Zandvoort could play host to a Dutch Grand Prix for the first time since 1985 if certain logistical and structural improvements are made within the race track, according to the course's co-owner, Bernhard van Oranje, with a feasibility study having already been completed last week.

Currently, Zandvoort has a FIA Grade Two license and it would need to rank up to a Grade One if it were to host a GP, coming at a cost of at least €10 million to make the necessary improvements.

The study was completed at the behest of Van Oranje, who wants to bring the prestigious event back to the Netherlands.

“I believe Liberty Media is looking for a way to make the sport attractive and I think they know what they need to do,” he told Motorsport.com.

“In my opinion, an ‘old-school’ race track belongs on the calendar, where if you run off the track you will hit the gravel.

“It’s no surprise that Zandvoort is the most popular track among the DTM drivers, it’s a challenging track and therefore fun to drive and for fans fun to watch. So, I believe the track fits in their [F1 owners'] strategy.

“Don’t expect the event to happen before 2020, but after that it would be a realistic scenario.”

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A few months ago, F1 race director Charlie Whiting paid a visit to the site and it was then when Van Oranje started thinking about making Zandvoort a GP location once again, with the main improvements suggested by Whiting being a larger pit area and a longer pit lane.

“We need to find a larger consortium to bring an event like that to the Netherlands,” Van Oranje continued.

“If that’s positive, we’ll sit together to see what is possible and take the return on investment into account.

“The next step is to see what kind of demands there are and at some point you need to acquire a spot on the calendar.”