Third round BOSS GP: Masters of Formula 3, Circuit Park Zandvoort

After the races at the circuits of Hockenheim and Spa-Francorchamps, the third race of the BOSS GP-series will take place at Circuit Park Zandvoort on 5 and 6 June. Fun fact for the spectators: there’s a big chance that a Dutch driver will be successful.

Klaas Zwart will be the ‘man to beat’ at Circuit Park Zandvoort. The four-time champion is still unbeaten this series. He started with two wins at Hockenheim and then recorded a double win at Spa-Francorchamps.

Never change a winning team is a famous saying in the world of racing. Zwart is clearly having other plans though. After winning four consecutive races with his Ascari Benetton B197 F1 from 1997, Zwart is now hopeful to drive his Jaguar R5 for the first time at Circuit Park Zandvoort. The Formula 1 car from 2004, driven by Mark Webber back then, is pretty much the older brother of the Red Bull Racing Formule 1 car in which Sebastian Vettel will drive during a demonstration race at the Masters of Formula 3. Jaguar Racing became Red Bull Racing in 2005.



Dutch guest drivers
Aside from the usual suspects in the BOSS GP-series, the presence of a number of guest drivers is expected at the Circuit Park Zandvoort. Henk Thuis will be racing in an Ascari Benetton B197 F1, while the names of Kelvin Snoeks and Melroy Heemskerk have also been mentioned as possible guest drivers. Kelvin races in the FIA Formula 2 championship this season, a stepping stone for the Formula 1. Melroy won the Formula Ford championship last season and drives in the Formula Audi Palmer class this term, where he has already recorded his first win.



Contenders
Aside from Klaas Zwart, drivers such as Marijn van Kalmthout and reigning champion Henk de Boer are among the contenders for the victory at their home circuit. Van Kalmthout recently finished second two times at Spa-Francorchamps after some exciting battles with Zwart for the leading position, while Henk de Boer also has quite an impressive trophy cabinet.

Other drivers to keep an eye on are Ingo Gerstl and Peter Milavec, who finished third at Spa-Francorchamps after a strong race.

The battle for the podium spots in the Masters Class is still undecided. Ingo Gerstl, who won both races at Hockenheim, has made the switch to the Open Class since Spa-Francorchamps. Five different drivers ended up on the podium in the Masters Class in the Belgian Ardennes.

“Great circuit”
How does reigning champion Henk de Boer feel about the Circuit Park Zandvoort? De Boer, who is driving a powerful 750 hp Panoz DP01 Champcar which was once driven by Antonio Pizzonia: “Circuit Park Zandvoort is a great circuit. These modern circuits are very technical most of the time.



I am of the opinion that a good circuit should be a combination between technical parts and a number of curves where you have to show some courage. Circuit Park Zandvoort is such a circuit. Take the Scheivlak for example. The Arie Luyendijk curve is also a big challenge. The circuit teases you, challenges you and is even a bit naughty.”

Schedule

The schedule of the BOSS GP-series during the Masters of Formula 3 is as follows (provisional):

Saturday 5 June:
09.30 – 09.50 Free training
12.45 – 13.05 Qualification training
17.35 – 17.55 RACE 1

Sunday 6 June:
16.40 – 17.00 RACE 2