In 2021 the Dutch Grand Prix returned to the Zandvoort circuit and BUas conducted a survey of the impact of the race. What contribution can BUas make as a cross-domain institute?
Research
1948-1986 The year 1948 saw the very first Dutch Grand Prix (DGP) on the Zandvoort circuit. Less than four years later, the race became part of the official Formula 1 World Championships. However, in 1986, new laws around noise pollution, complaints about environmental pollution and traffic chaos, and a lack of money put an end to the Dutch Grand Prix. The desire for the Formula 1 to return never disappeared. With the rising popularity of Max Verstappen, co-owner of the circuit and racing enthusiast Prince Bernard Junior had this wish fulfilled in September 2021.
35 years later… You may be wondering: are the problems from 1986 suddenly no longer problems? Or has the impact of the race actually changed? Breda University of Applied Sciences (BUas) saw an opportunity here to study the current impact of the race. Together with her team, drs. Kristel Zegers investigated the impact of the Formula 1 on Zandvoort’s visitors, residents, businesses and municipality. Using questionnaires, they collected data that provided information on the societal, social and economic impacts of the race at Zandvoort Circuit in 2021. The questionnaires were circulated among visitors to the event and business owners, residents and visitors to the village.
Zandvoort back on the map The questionnaires showed that people were very positive about the event in 2021. We are talking about satisfaction percentages as high as 80% to 90%. In contrast, about 5% of residents were concerned about the environmental impact of the DGP. Nevertheless, Zandvoort residents and entrepreneurs gave the event an average rating of 8.9 (on a scale of 1 to 10). According to respondents reasons for this positive evaluation include putting Zandvoort on the map, strengthening its image and contributing to the local economy. One comment the researchers made in this regard concerns the positive circumstances that partly influenced the positive survey results. These included Verstappen's win, the beautiful weather and the corona measures that made the event much less crowded.
What changed? 35 years ago, all parties were diametrically opposed to each other which resulted in the termination of racing at Zandvoort. What this study shows is that in this day and age, it is again possible to come up with solutions together. BUas, as a cross-domain and independent party, plays an important mediating role in this debate. Zandvoort is a case study that shows the importance of considering different components when organising an event of this size. There are interests around event management, logistics and mobility, leisure, economy, tourism and sustainability. Consequently, beyond the current study, a variety of other studies were completed by BUas on and around the circuit. All these studies are interconnected. Earlier, the tourism impact of the DGP was studied and the BUas Experience Lab looked into the emotions of the public through smart wristbands. Visitor flows between railway station and circuit were also investigated in collaboration with the NS (Dutch Railways). With the results of all these and future studies, the municipality and government can make decisions that will make the DGP an event that pleases everyone. For example, the researchers of this study recommend focusing more on economic impact and nurturing residents' pride. In a subsequent study (2022 and 2023), the researchers will again test the impact of the Grand Prix from which new advice will emerge.
