Formula 1 Heineken Dutch Grand Prix to Zandvoort in 2020

Chase Carey, CEO of Formula One Management (FOM), today officially announces in Zandvoort that the race will return to the Netherlands after an absence of 35 years. With Heineken as title sponsor, the official name of the event will be: Formula 1 Heineken Dutch Grand Prix.

Chase Carey CEO of Formula One Management announced the news. “We are particularly pleased to announce that Formula 1 is returning to race in the Netherlands, at the Zandvoort track. From the beginning of our tenure in Formula 1, we said we wanted to race in new venues, while also respecting the sport’s historic roots in Europe. Next season therefore, we will have a brand new street race that will be held in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi, as well the return to Zandvoort, after an absence of 35 years; a track that has contributed to the popularity of the sport all over the world. In recent years, we’ve seen a resurgence of interest in Formula 1 in Holland, mainly due to the enthusiastic support for the talented Max Verstappen, as seen from the sea of orange at so many races. No doubt this will be the dominant colour in the Zandvoort grandstands next year.”

  

The agreement on organizing the Formula 1 race in Zandvoort has been signed between Formula One Management and the Dutch Grand Prix (DGP). The DGP is a collaboration between SportVibes, TIG Sports and the Circuit Zandvoort. Jan Lammers has been appointed sporting director of this new entity. Together with the municipality and other partners, the DGP has worked hard for years on the return of Formula 1 to Zandvoort.

The Grand Prix will be organized in a festival-like setting, with activities for the whole family. Various Dutch top artists, have already made a commitment to support this event with high level performances. The event will therefore show the world what the Netherlands stand for in terms of innovation, entrepreneurship and orange pride. The Formula 1 Heineken Dutch Grand Prix is expected to take place in May next year.

The agreement is valid for three years and came about thanks to the important support of a number of Dutch companies such as Pon, VolkerWessels, Jumbo, CM.com, Talpa Network and Heineken. Dutch Grand Prix wants to make the race in Zandvoort the most sustainable Grand Prix in the world, among other things by encouraging the optimal use of public transport and arrival by bicycle.

Jan Lammers, sporting director of Dutch Grand Prix: “The Zandvoort Circuit and its legendary Tarzan corner are known worldwide. The Formula 1 and the drivers praise the old school circuit, which immediately punishes every driver's error due to the exciting dune character. The circuit will be adjusted on a few points in the coming months, so that it meets today's racing standards.”

After the Olympic Games and the Football World Championships, Formula 1 is one of the largest international sporting events that a country can organize. On average, a Formula 1 race is viewed by around 450 million people worldwide. In the vicinity of the circuit, the race provides around 80 to 100 million euros in economic spin-off per weekend.

Research has shown that the interest in a Dutch Formula 1 race in The Netherlands is huge. The expectation is that the demand for entrance tickets will be greater than the supply. The Dutch Grand Prix organization is currently working on a ticketing program that gives as many racing fans the opportunity to attend this special event. The exact conditions and detailed information about the ticketing program such as prices and grandstands will be announced by the DGP in the coming weeks on www.dutchgp.com

Tickets are sold through an application and allocation process that is common with other major events such as the Olympic Games and the Football World Cup. Race fans can register for this from 27 May until 16 June. All registrations in the stated period have an equal chance in the application process. Registration is free of charge and without any obligation.

Heineken International has been a Formula 1 Global Beer Partner for several seasons and will also become the exclusive title partner of the Dutch Grand Prix in 2020.

Quote Hans Erik Tuijt: “In 2016, the worldwide partnership between Heineken and Formula 1 officially started. In the first place as an exclusive beer partner during the entire racing tournament worldwide, but also as a title sponsor on the circuits of China, Italy and Mexico. It should come as no surprise that the "home race" in Zandvoort is extra special for Heineken. Responsible alcohol consumption has a prominent place within the Formula 1 partnership. Heineken will start the race to further spread its "When You Drink Never Drive" message. In this light, Heineken 0.0 will be visible on the boarding. For Heineken, Formula 1 is much more than just a race, the fun before during and after is just as important. When it comes to atmosphere and sport, Heineken has a reputation to uphold. With that mindset a big party will be set up. Not only on the circuit but also beyond. The return of F1 to the Netherlands in 2020 is a huge reward for all the millions of race fans that our country has. Heineken is proud to be part of that."

 

Pon will support the Dutch Grand Prix in the coming years. With 125 years of experience in mobility and a wide range of mobility products and services in its portfolio, Pon is a natural partner. The Dutch family business still has a historical link with the Grand Prix in Zandvoort. Ben Pon took part in the Grand Prix of the Netherlands in 1962 as a Formula 1 driver. The grandstand next to the main grandstand along the start / finish of the circuit will be named 'Ben Pon grandstand' during the Dutch Grand Prix.

Peter de Mönnink, CEO of Talpa Network said: “It is great that the Grand Prix is back in the Netherlands after 35 years. We are very happy for the many fans of Formula 1 and Max Verstappen that partly thanks to traditional Dutch entrepreneurship we have succeeded in this. Talpa Network is a proud partner of Formula 1 Heineken Dutch Grand Prix. We want to contribute to ensuring that as many Dutch people as possible can enjoy Formula 1 in Zandvoort, the masterful performance of the teams and of course Max Verstappen in particular. ”

As Conversational Commerce partner, CM.com will enable the ticket sales and manage payments at the event. In the run up to the event CM.com will use Mobile Messaging and other solutions to optimize the fan experience.

CEO CM.com Jeroen van Glabbeek says “When the ambitious initiators behind the Dutch Grand Prix were looking for the most modern way to sell tickets, they approached CM.com. Because the CM.com team consists of true sports enthusiasts who love technology, the collaboration soon grew into a real partnership. CM.com is ready to have the international GP-public experience the power of Conversational Commerce. Through Mobile Messaging and Payments fans will be able to optimize their event experience using their mobile phones.”

“As a proud sponsor of Max Verstappen, Jumbo is naturally delighted that the Dutch Grand Prix is coming to the Netherlands. We have been supporting young, sporting talent like Max for years and have been organizing the well-attended Jumbo Racing Days for four years in a row. With this, motor sport is more popular than ever and young and old are once again inspired by Formula 1. We are pleased that we have been able to contribute to the growing popularity of motor sport in the Netherlands in this way. We will continue to surprise Dutch families in the coming years. The way in which Jumbo will become part of the Dutch Grand Prix is still to be determined. We are currently focusing on the upcoming edition of the Jumbo Racing Days, on 18 and 19 May 2019, "says Frits van Eerd, Jumbo CEO. For more information about the Jumbo Racing Days, go to www.Jumbo.com

Alfred Vos, COO of VolkerWessels said: “The Dutch Grand Prix will be an event where innovations, technology and realization come together at the highest level and on a world stage. As a partner of the Dutch Grand Prix, we are proud to bring the track, telecommunications and other infrastructure to a level that suits an event of this caliber.”

Photo: ltr: Chase Carey (CEO FOM), Hans Erik Tuijt (director global sponsorships Heineken), Jan Lammers (director sport), Niek Meijer (mayor Zandvoort)

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For more information on Formula 1 Heineken Dutch Grand Prix, call Media relations DutchGP, Simon Keijzer +31 654 754 405, media@DutchGP.com