Prince Bernhard of Zandvoort and Max Verstappen

Posted on 06-05-2016 at 12:01 by perry_snijders – 74 Comments”

We had an interview with the new owner of Circuit Park Zandvoort.

When it became known that prince Bernhard jr. is the buyer of Circuit Park Zandvoort, we sent directly, of course, an interview request. His spokesperson did, however, know that the prince not only interview he gave. What that says about the interview, that The Telegraph was published, we know not. But recently we got good news: we were able to come by and the prince wanted to talk about his recent purchase. ‘We are here for the long term.’

Bernhard
Prince Bernhard studied economics, a year in Washington and the rest of his study in Groningen. During his studies, he caused a sensation by to take action: he founded with friends the company Ritzen Couriers. That company to let students packages to deliver, and was named after the minister that the OV-student card entered. Also in later enterprises was the prince successfully. It led to quite a bit of speculation when he made the circuit of Zandvoort bought, incidentally, together with Menno de Jong, in 1990, one of his partners was at Ritzen Couriers.
What speculations that were? We pick up there but once alone, through the forum of Driving Fun: ‘do not be Mistaken in the man, it is a very shrewd businessman. Who buys this for his hobby, since I believe nothing of it.” And another comment there: “I have my doubts, I think there about ten years, a beautiful onroerendgoedproject is, then you can through the tarzan corner, the parking garage under your apartment luxury in drive.” And here on Autoblog: “Why would the Family believe that this by them — they are shrewd business people — to be profitable exploitable? It remains an outdated circuit on a stupid location. The future for the circuit of Zandvoort seems to me to lie in a move to Flevoland.’

Nonsense
Reason enough to get to From Orange to ask what his future plans for the circuit are so. “For this year’s calendar with a number of beautiful events, such as the DTM and the Family race Days with Max Verstappen. Then we are going to look at the programming: what do you do now, what races do you want to have, what type of events would you organize? We address now some matters that currently require attention. In the longer term we try to make the history a bit more to bring it back to the circuit. Circuit Park Zandvoort has a wonderful history, but you feel them here too little. In addition, we are investigating the possibilities to expand, for example, a hotel or an event hall. We are here for the long term, not today on tomorrow’s profits or make it again soon to sell.’

Still read you after the purchase, however, that motor racing fans were afraid that the circuit to its longest time would have been. They feared that, for example, holiday parks, hotels or apartments on the site of the legendary asfaltlap would come. ‘Those rumors I have not heard of that, ” says the prince. “But it is an absolute nonsense. If you racing think, do you think the Circuit Park Zandvoort that is one-on-one with each other. This is the autosportmekka of the Netherlands and that we just want to continue to expand. We are twenty miles from Amsterdam, we are near to amsterdam Schiphol airport, we are easy to reach by train, we sit by the sea, and then we have also that beautiful history. Of course, we throw that away. And look at the DTM, after Formula 1 may be the best of the sport: that is to say the riders that Zandvoort with a dot on one state in terms of rijdersexperience. It is a very nice circuit, but it also has from all sides of potential.’ His favorite places are on that beautiful track? ‘Forest with a fast car is always very exciting, since you can still very annoying to come true if you don’t do well. And that whole piece to the Scheivlak is great, by the Slotemaker all the way to the top.’

Le Mans
Although I know the answer, I ask, of course, to the plans to that history is back on the circuit. “Of course, there are ideas, but not in the form of a concrete plan that is ready to be presented. You understand of course that I only want to say if that is the case.’ A bells and whistles-question but then. Drive Of Orange also have a lap with the Alfa 8C, that during the interview in the parking lot? ‘Or I here now with a race car drive or with the Alpha, I find it with íedere car to the track to drive.” And about racing cars spoken, the prince himself is still racing? ‘I drive GT4 along with my brother and we are doing that this year again, but we look at it per year.’ Which race per se driven, before he stops? The ‘Le Mans of course, what else?’
That racing he does together with his brother Pieter-Christiaan. Another brother of the prince, Maurits, was concerned with electric cars and sustainable mobility. Collides not with such a circuithobby? Bernhard: not at All, because there are a lot of techniques from the sport in that – just think of the CHERRY. There are also many developments that motor sport more sustainable, such as Formula E. Moreover, we have here also quite different events, such as races, the Run and a bike race of 24 hours. The circuit is much more than just gasoline.’ And such a Formula E race, that’s for Zandvoort? “I would love to get Formula E here, want to have, but at this time they choose for racing circuits. That’s also because they do not have the full length of the circuit can drive, that you would then have to shorten. Also, it would be a very beautiful spectacle.”

Verstappen
Finally, we ask the prince to the Family Days on 4 and 5 June, the event which we now all know that it is the best attended event of the year will be. A couple of demo laps do not meet at a real race anyway? ‘I think that. Max of course has a huge fanbase, he put the racing in the Netherlands on the map again. He is also a really good athlete. But if you as a fan to a Formula 1 race, you see him actually not get you the opportunity for. Here he is walking really two full days around and we have demo’s with the car. I think that it’s awesome is that they show initiative. You see the car, but also the idol. Amazing, isn’t it?’
Incidentally, confirmed Circuit Park Zandvoort today that the transition of Max from Toro Rosso to Red Bull also means that he was at the Family Days on 4 and 5 June, with Red Bull will drive.

Photo: RVD/Jeroen van der Meyde