Zolder
Heusden-Zolder, Belgium · 10 races held
Race History
| Year | Grand Prix | Winner | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Belgian Grand Prix | Michele Alboreto | Ferrari |
| 1982 | Belgian Grand Prix | John Watson | McLaren |
| 1981 | Belgian Grand Prix | Carlos Reutemann | Williams |
| 1980 | Belgian Grand Prix | Didier Pironi | Ligier |
| 1979 | Belgian Grand Prix | Jody Scheckter | Ferrari |
| 1978 | Belgian Grand Prix | Mario Andretti | Team Lotus |
| 1977 | Belgian Grand Prix | Gunnar Nilsson | Team Lotus |
| 1976 | Belgian Grand Prix | Niki Lauda | Ferrari |
| 1975 | Belgian Grand Prix | Niki Lauda | Ferrari |
| 1973 | Belgian Grand Prix | Jackie Stewart | Tyrrell |
About Zolder
The Circuit Zolder, in Heusden-Zolder in the Belgian region of Limburg, served as the principal home of the Belgian Grand Prix through much of the 1970s and into the 1980s. With the legendary old Spa-Francorchamps deemed too dangerous, Belgium's race alternated between Zolder and Nivelles before Zolder became the regular venue, hosting the Grand Prix on numerous occasions across the decade.
An undulating, tree-lined permanent circuit punctuated by chicanes, Zolder offered a tighter, more technical challenge than the fearsome old Spa it largely replaced. It saw victories for many of the era's leading names, from Niki Lauda and Jackie Stewart to Mario Andretti, John Watson and Michele Alboreto.
The circuit's history is, however, forever marked by tragedy. The 1982 weekend saw the death of Ferrari's Gilles Villeneuve in a qualifying crash, one of the sport's most painful losses. Formula 1's relationship with Zolder ended in the mid-1980s as the rebuilt, modernised Spa-Francorchamps reclaimed the Belgian Grand Prix.
Memorable Moments
- 1973: Jackie Stewart won as Zolder established itself as a Belgian Grand Prix venue, one of the leading lights of the era taking honours at the Limburg circuit.
- 1982: The sport was plunged into mourning when Gilles Villeneuve was killed in a high-speed accident during qualifying, a devastating loss that overshadowed everything else that weekend.
- 1982: John Watson won the race itself for McLaren, in a Grand Prix forever defined by the tragedy that preceded it.
- 1984: Michele Alboreto won at Zolder for Ferrari in what proved to be the final Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix held at the circuit before the race returned to Spa.
Track Character
Zolder is a compact, undulating permanent circuit that winds through pine woods, mixing flowing corners with a series of tight chicanes added and adjusted over the years to control speed. Its gradient changes and stop-start rhythm placed a premium on braking stability, traction out of the chicanes and mechanical grip, making it a more technical and less flat-out test than the old Spa it succeeded. Overtaking centred on the heavy braking zones into those chicanes. Though it has not hosted Formula 1 for decades, the circuit remains an active venue and is indelibly tied to the memory of Gilles Villeneuve.