On May 30 and 31, 2014, the famous Circuit Park Zandvoort, beautifully located along the North Sea coast, will be hosting the inaugural edition of the Dunlop 12H ZANDVOORT. Dutch agency CREVENTIC, already well-known from successful endurance races as the Dunlop 24H DUBAI, the 24H BARCELONA and the Dunlop 12H HUNGARY, and the management of Circuit Park Zandvoort will jointly be acting as promoters of the race. Together with the Dutch National Racing Team (DNRT), CREVENTIC will also handle the sporting organisation of the race. The event will be the longest race for GTs and touring cars in The Netherlands.
Opened in 1948, the Dutch circuit of Zandvoort is famous in the motorsport world. It has hosted the Dutch Formula 1 Grand Prix for many years until 1985, has been a regular fixture on the calendar of the DTM touring car series since 2001 and has also served as the venue for various international touring car, single seater and GT race events. Beautifully located in the dunes, the 4.3 kilometres long circuit is very popular among drivers, who all describe the track as a genuine ‘drivers’ circuit’ with long straights and high-speed corners and plenty of undulation. The seaside resort of Zandvoort has plenty of hotels and restaurants to offer, while the Dutch capital of Amsterdam including its international airport is within easy reach by car or public transport. The planning of the race on the Ascension weekend enables drivers, team members and their guests to enjoy a long weekend at Zandvoort.
In recent years, Circuit Park Zandvoort has added some new international events to its portfolio. Erik Weijers, C.O.O. of Circuit Park Zandvoort, comments: “We are delighted that we now finally are able to add a real international endurance race to our calendar. Together with CREVENTIC and DNRT, we will do our utmost to ensure that it will be a great event for competitors and spectators alike.” CREVENTIC’s Gerrie Willems says: “It will be exciting to see whether the Dutch teams can turn their home advantage into victory. Several strong foreign endurance racing teams have already expressed their interest in this race. I am really curious.”
For the inaugural running of the event, that is meant to be an annual fixture, the organisers are expecting a full grid of 50 entrants with a wide range of GTs and touring cars, from Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3, Audi R8 and Chrysler Viper to BMWs and Renault Clios. Pre-registration is already possible on the website www.24hseries.com, while further details like the time schedule for the two-day event are to be announced shortly. A wide variety of paddock activities for visitors is planned as well. Like in the races in Dubai and Hungary, Dunlop is the exclusive tyre partner and title sponsor of the event. As usual, there will also be extensive media coverage, including a review on MOTORS TV.
CREVENTIC’s calendar shaping up with four races in 2014
Meanwhile, CREVENTIC’s calendar for 2014 is shaping up with four races. The season starts with the ninth running of the Dunlop 24H DUBAI (9-10-11 January), followed by the new Dunlop 12H ZANDVOORT (30-31 May). After the summer break, there is the 24H BARCELONA (5-6-7 September) while the Dunlop 12H HUNGARY has been moved to an autumn slot (3-4 October) following requests from various teams. CREVENTIC is also planning a fifth event, with a venue in Italy in spring as one of the options. Further details are to be announced in due course.
Source : 24H Series