Assen moves forward with Dutch GP endeavor, names promoter

© XPB 

Assen is stepping up its efforts to bring Formula 1 back to the Netherlands where it was last seen 1985 at the country's historical venue at Zandvoort.

FIA race director Charlie Whiting conducted a visit of the Assen circuit in January and outlined a series of changes and alterations necessary to upgrade the track to the mandatory Grade 1 FIA licence. 

The venue, located in the northern region of Holland, near Groningen, is the very popular home of MotoGP's Dutch round.

Whiting's rather positive review of the circuit prompted the creation of a dedicated company - the Netherlands Grand Prix Foundation - which will act as the promoter of an F1 event after receiving a mandate from the Assen TT Circuit to handle future commercial negotiations with The Formula One Group.

The endeavor has received the full support of the Assen city and the Drenthe province 

"The board of the TT Circuit is happy to entrust  The Netherlands Grand Prix Foundation with the organization of  a possible F1 race in Assen," said Assen TT Circuit president Arjan Bos.

"The board members of this foundation have earned their stripes in the International motorsport arena and have been at the head of the biggest events in the history of the circuit.

"We expect maximum cooperation." 

Zandvoort, the historic home of the Dutch Grand Prix in the past, recently indicated that its own chances of hosting an F1 event were remote, citing the financial burden associated with a potential race.

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