Zandvoort’s new final corner with a reported 18 degrees of banking will not lead to any repeat of the drama seen at Indianapolis in 2005.
That is the confident prediction of Dutch Grand Prix sporting director Jans Lammers as a redevelopment of the venue for the first Formula 1 race in the Netherlands since 1985 continues.
The new corner has been integrated as part of a plan to make overtaking easier at Zandvoort as cars will drive flat-out onto the main straight and on to the Turn 1 hairpin at Tarzan.
However, memories of that infamous race at the Brickyard where only the six Bridgestone cars raced as Michelin couldn’t secure the safety of their tyres on the banking of course raise a small alarm.
“I don’t expect any issues with the tyres,” Lammers stated via GPToday. “There are two reasons for that. First of all, the corner in Indianapolis is way longer than this one. So the overall tyre load was much heavier there.
“Second, the corners in Indianapolis have some kind of linear banking. Over here we have a progressive banking, almost comparable to a bobsleigh track.
“We talked to Pirelli as well basically from the first moment we thought of creating a banked corner in Zandvoort. We speak to them on a daily basis and share all the updates and information we have.”
Undoubtedly the oval-style corner will provide another unique feature to the historic circuit, but it isn’t the only one which is heavily cambered and that will offer a different challenge from most modern tracks.
“No modern circuit has a banked corner integrated into the actual design of the track,” Lammers claimed. “So May 2020 will not only be a comeback of the Dutch Grand Prix, but also a comeback of the banked corner in F1.
“That makes it even more special. All F1 drivers are familiar with normal circuits, but not with a track including some banked corners. So they have to adapt to that, that will be very interesting to see.”
Other upgrades are on course to bring Zandvoort upto the necessary Grade 1 FIA status to host a Grand Prix although many of the gravel traps which the circuit is known for are not being touched.