This weekend, the DTM travels outside Germany for the first time this season. Races seven and eight will be contested at Zandvoort, the Dutch race track that is regarded as one of the most demanding on the calendar of the most popular international touring car series. For the tyres supplied by premium manufacturer Hankook, the dune circuit poses many challenges, with high cornering speeds, rough asphalt and sand that blows from the beach onto the track.
Zandvoort/Netherlands, 9 July 2015 – Only metres from the North Sea beach, the 4.307-kilometre stretch of asphalt snakes its way through the dunes. Sand constantly blows onto the circuit causing the cars to slide and the grip level to decrease. “You can’t do anything about the sand which makes it important to stay on the racing line particularly in qualifying. This line is driven clean by the cars,” explains Hankook’s DTM race engineer Thomas Baltes.
Characteristic of the Circuit Park Zandvoort is the diverse track layout. Very fast passages flow into slow segments, the track is like a rollercoaster with banked corners hidden behind crests. In addition, the circuit is relatively narrow which makes overtaking difficult. Thomas Baltes: “At Zandvoort you need a combination of mechanical and aerodynamic grip, or in other words a balanced vehicle set-up to deal with all its distinctive features.”
Given the sharp, rough surface of the dune circuit, the tread of the Hankook slicks are put under slightly more stresses than at other DTM tracks. Moreover, the temperature of the rubber can increase due to the occasional sliding. This, however, has no effect on the performance of the tyre, whereas the high cornering speeds can sometimes pose a challenge to the structure of the Ventus Race.
“From a tyre point of view, Zandvoort is the most challenging DTM track. In the fast banked corners, the structure of the Hankook race tyre comes under heavy stress. And with the aerodynamic downforce, the Ventus Race tyre has to cope with extreme forces. For this reason the air pressure should not be too low in order to keep tyre wear to a minimum,” stated Hankook’s DTM race engineer.
A critical part of the dune circuit is the Tarzanbocht directly after the finish straight. Outbraking and
overtaking manoeuvres are possible approaching this 180-degree corner, as well as in the final track sector where pilots can attack in the hairpin and the following chicane. The grandstands offer great views of the race action, making the Zandvoort circuit very popular amongst fans. The same goes for the drivers who enjoy the special character and unique charm of the Dutch circuit at the seaside.
