Historic F1 returns to Zolder in Belgium
Marcel Hundscheid / Speed-O-Graphica.com
The British Masters Historic Racing season starts this year with a return to Zolder, the former home of the Belgian Grand Prix. The FIA Masters Historic Formula One Championship headlines the weekend featuring F1 cars from the seventies and early eighties.
Besides the F1 cars three other major Masters grids will be present at Zolder including the FIA Masters Historic Sports Car Championship, Masters Gentlemen Drivers and Masters Pre-66 Touring Cars. For the event Masters links up with the Belcar Trophy for GT and touring cars and the Belgian Historic Cup.
Built in 1963, Zolder hosted the Belgian Grand Prix in the 70s and early 80s. In 1982 Ferrari driver Gilles Villeneuve was tragically killed during the qualifying session after colliding with the March of German Jochen Mass. In 1983 the Belgian Grand Prix moved to Spa-Francorchamps, before returning for the final time to Zolder in 1984. From 1985 the Belgian Grand moved permanently to Spa.
Besides Formula 1 several major racing series used Zolder for their championships, such as the DTM, F3000, FIA WTCC, Superleague Formula, Champ Car, FIA GT and the Blancpain Sprint Series.
Over the weekend classic F1 cars from Arrows, Brabham, Ensign, Lotus, Tyrrell, March, McLaren and Williams can be seen during two 25 minute races.
Fans of historic sports will be treated with a single 60 minute race featuring the mighty Lola T70s competing against the smaller Lola and Chevron prototypes. As the track lay out in Zolder is quite twisty, it is far from sure that the big V8 powered Lolas will cross the chequered flag first.
Masters Gentlemen Drivers feature iconic cars from brands such as AC, Aston Martin, Ferrari, Jaguar, Morgan, Porsche and TVR, as the Masters Pre-66 Touring Car Grid is open to cars as the BMW 1800, Lotus Cortina, Ford Mustang a.o.
Paddock weekend tickets in presales are available from € 20,00 and can be bought from: Masters Historic Racing Zolder
We’re looking forward to the weekend, and hope to catch up with some of you there!
