Eversince it became clear that team Netherlands would compete in A1GP I decided to check it out, and if possible, follow it in all the media available to me.
Motorsports are big in the Netherlands. We have 2 good circuits, and several racing classes in both open-wheel and production car classes with races on Zandvoort, Assen, Zolder, Spa and occasionally far outside our borders like Italy, Germany or the UK. Add to that the enthousiasm generated by the successes of Jos Verstappen, and you end up with a country that is totally motorsport barmy.
For the first season, Jos Verstappen and Jeroen Bleekemolen were signed up, and the expectations in Holland were very high. Surely, Jos Verstappen should win this one easily…. He didn’t. That didn’t stop more than a hundred-thousand fans to make a run for tickets for the A1 Dutch GP at Zandvoort, which was to be the start of season 2.
And what a race it was. It had crashes, drama, good gambles, wrong gambles, and an unpleasant and unexpected surprise a few days before the race. Jos Verstappen wasn’t going to drive for team Netherlands this season ! The crowd quickly embrased Jeroen Bleekemolen though, and gave him their full support, and Jeroen in his turn, didn’t disappoint.
Now we will be starting season 3 in 3 months. Right now, no drivers are confirmed, though there is an intention to continue driving with Jeroen Bleekemolen and Renger van der Zande. Sure: ticket sales didn’t rocket as much as last year, but I do expect quite a crowd on the last day of September, and it will be party time again, when people from all over Europe will gather to celebrate the start of the third season.
And I will be there, reporting, making pictures, creating a video perhaps, and doing my best to capture the atmosphere of the great spectacle that is A1GP.
