Circuit Park Zandvoort, now renamed the CM.com Circuit Zandvoort, was often the scene of the Dutch Grand Prix between 1952 and 1985. On 25 August 1985, it hosted - until its return in 2021 - the hitherto last F1 race. That same year, Keke Rosberg clocked the highest average speed over a lap in F1 in his Williams FW10 at Silverstone: 257.506 kph. That record would only be broken in 2004 by Juan Pablo Montoya in the Williams FW26, when he tore across Monza at an average speed of 262.242kph. Each time, Monza would again be the scene of this record, with the most recent record in the name of Lewis Hamilton in 2020: 264.362kph.
F1 has not stood still in the years when Zandvoort was not on the calendar. Considerable progress has been made in many areas. For instance, today's Formula 1 cars are a lot safer, they manage to set faster lap times despite increased weight and decreased power, and durability has become one of the biggest pillars for the future. In two months, those modern F1 cars will reappear on the Zandvoort circuit, but during the Historic Grand Prix, it was precisely the roaring cars of the 1980s that were on display.
To showcase Formula 1's progress over the years in terms of durability, performance and safety, former F1 engineer Ernest Knoors, who gained years of F1 experience as an engine engineer for Stewart, Jaguar and BMW, among others, discusses the progression at the Zandvoort circuit. Zandvoort is also the prime location for that, as this dune circuit suddenly had to move significantly with the times to bring in modern Formula 1. Not only was the circuit adapted to welcome Formula 1, the organisation also came up with a progressive mobility plan. Cars will not enter Zandvoort during the F1 weekend and public transport and cycling will instead be promoted.
Source: Autosport