August 11, 2002 Circuit Park Zandvoort - Every year Circuit Park Zandvoort is the host of the biggest auto sport event in the Netherlands, the Marlboro Masters. High point is the international Formula-3 race, and new this year the EuroBOSS race with old Formula-1 cars. Local Dutch racing series will race also and Marlboro demonstrates the Marlboro Yahama Team and the Marlboro Ferrari Team. Reason enough for Erwin and Ronnie to go to the 12th edition of the Masters.

For both it was the first time at Zandvoort, we booked a camping close to the circuit from friday till monday cause we didn't want to miss anything. We had tickets for Saturday and Sunday, however on Friday the support series had their practice and qualification. A perfect opportunity to walk around the circuit and explore the city Zandvoort. Because the circuit is surrounded by high dunes it was still possible to see most of the track and the racing action on it.

On Saturday the Formula-3 and the EuroBOSS had their training and qualification. Ronnie had seen Formula-3000 before on the circuit of Assen but it was my first time to see real race cars in action. We were both impressed by the sound these machines made.

Not everybody liked the screaming noise of the Formula cars

The Formula-3's were screaming around the circuit but even more impressive were the EuroBOSS cars. There was a bit of commotion about the only Indycar in the series, that car wasn't allowed to start the practice at first cause that car used a different type of gasoline. After the security marshall's were informed how to deal with that if the car should crash it finally was allowed on the circuit.
One car was special, the Formula Renault Benneton in which Dutch Jos Verstappen made his Formula-1 debut. The most beautiful sound of the weekend was the 1995 Ferrari V12 who locked up the gearbox in practice and spun right in front of us. Sadly we could hear it only once.

That was not the end of Ferrari at the Masters. Luciano Burti took the 2001 F1 Ferrari, in which M.Schumacher became champion, out for a demonstration ride at the circuit. Followed by Carlos Checca, Max Biaggi and Randy Mamola on their Marlboro Yamaha's. It was a short demonstration, and they were holding back for sunday as what the DTM drivers did with their demonstration.

A diner in Zandvoort and a walk over the beach at sunset made the day complete. At the camping we met some German's, who didn't even knew there was a race at the circuit 300 meters down the road. After drinking some beers and having some fun we went early to bed, cause we didn't want to miss anything at Sunday.

Svend gets a piece of action to by Ronnie's phone.

While most of the partying German's just went to sleep we got out early on Sunday. We found a nice spot on a high dune just in front of the 'Nissan bocht' chicane and had our breakfast while the Formula-3 and EuroBOSS did their warm-up laps. That must have been the loudest breakfast I ever had. As what later turned out we had a good spot. There was a lot of action in front of us. Due to the nature of the chicane we saw a lot of out-braking and because of that spectacular crashes.

The day started with local racing series. The Renault Clio's and the Van Uitert Formula Ford's did both a 12 laps race and the Dutch Touring Cars did a 13 laps race. Racing action was intense in these series. The fields were close and that showed of in some spectacular crashes. We were lucky to have a big TV screen just across the track so we didn't miss anything on the circuit.

After a short DTM demo it was time to start the 25 laps race of the Marlboro Masters of F3. In the warm-up lap 2 Dutch guys collided with each other just after the Nissan corner, they had to retire the race even before the start has begun. We couldn't see the start from our position but when they arrived at our corner it was the pole sitter Carbone from Brazil still in the lead. The race was pretty long and we saw some good action. The race was won by Carbone, who may end up in the Formula 1 as what previous winners did like Verstappen, Coulthard and Sato.

After the F3 race there were several Marlboro demonstrations who were pretty impressive. A bit later on the EuroBOSS had its race. Local favorite Tom Coronel who started in the Benneton of Verstappen stalled his engine at the start but made an impressive comeback in the race. It was fun to see how the Indycar lost ground in every corner but set the highest top speed at the straight. The day ended with some races from local Dutch series in Touring cars.

All day on the track is pretty demanding, so it was time for food and beer. Turned out the Germans we met on our camping decided to go to the race as well. They had a good time just as we did. While drinking we decided to come back to Zandvoort next year as well. If its up to me, we will certainly do!

Very successful weekend and in the end we are both proud owners of a #29 Kevin Harvick NASCAR scale model we bought on the circuit market.

Cu at the 13th edition!

Erwin and Ronnie Zeemering.