Circuit Zolder, now known as Circuit Terlamen, is a permanent racing facility in northeastern Belgium. Used for the Belgian Grand Prix a total of 10 times between 1973 and 1984, it no longer hosts anything faster than touring cars.
Circuit History[]
Zolder was constructed in 1963, as an alternative to Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, and to have a circuit in the Flemish-speaking portion of the country. While it is not in a densely populated area, it is adjacent to a forest preserve and a major shipping canal, which has restricted safety improvements and expansion. After the original Spa circuit was retired, the intention was to alternate Zolder and Nivelles-Baulers as host for the Grand Prix. But the Nivelles circuit went bankrupt after two Grands Prix, so Zolder was the default host until the new Spa circuit was constructed.
Circuit Layouts[]
Previous Layouts[]
1963-1971[]
The track was laid out with the front and back straights parallel to each other, with wider loop sections at either end, and a total of four chicanes mixed in. A gap in between the straights is used for the pits and paddock, but the actual area is quite cramped, so much of the interior of the loop sections is needed for extra paddock space.
After the 1⁄2 km pit straight, the cars would make a decreasing-radius 135° left known as Eerste (Dutch "eerste" = English "first"). This was widely regarded as the most interesting corner of the track, and caused much mayhem and entertainment at race starts. After a short straight, the second bend was a double-apex righthander (Sterrenwachtbocht), but wider than the first corner. After a straight short enough that the cars kept turning, the cars hit the third turn, known as Kanaalbocht as the track now passes along the Albert Canal. The fourth turn is a quick 90° righthander named Lucien Bianchibocht, that leads onto the back straight, just behind the pits.
Current[]
Event history[]
The following is a list of Formula One World Championship events held at the Zolder circuit:
Notes[]
| V T E |  Belgian Grand Prix
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Circuits | Spa-Francorchamps (1950 - 1970, 1983, 1985 - Present), Nivelles (1972, 1974), Zolder (1973, 1975 - 1982, 1984) |  |
| Races | 1950 • 1951 • 1952 • 1953 • 1954 • 1955 • 1956 • 1957 • 1958 • 1959 • 1960 • 1961 • 1962 • 1963 • 1964 • 1965 • 1966 • 1967 • 1968 • 1969 • 1970 • 1971 • 1972 • 1973 • 1974 • 1975 • 1976 • 1977 • 1978 • 1979 • 1980 • 1981 • 1982 • 1983 • 1984 • 1985 • 1986 • 1987 • 1988 • 1989 • 1990 • 1991 • 1992 • 1993 • 1994 • 1995 • 1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999 • 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010 • 2011 • 2012 • 2013 • 2014 • 2015 • 2016 • 2017 • 2018 • 2019 • 2020 • 2021 • 2022 • 2023 | |
| Pre-1950 races | 1925 • 1930 • 1931 • 1933 • 1934 • 1935 • 1937 • 1939 • 1947 • 1949 |
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