Dank uwel Circuit Zolder! Thank you very much Circuit Zolder!

I woke up at 3.45am on Tuesday 1st May and boarded a DFDS ferry from Dover to Dunquirke at 7.50am. Eleven hours later, and quite ready for bed, I arrived at Circuit Zolder in Belgium. The weather was like a summers day and I got a little buzz of excitement to over-ride my tiredness when I saw the main entrance to the circuit.

This circuit, bathed in sunshine, was a real  F1 'golden' oldie to arrive to. We were greeted by the people at the circuit, who made sure we were all ok for the start of our run. Everyone was incredibly friendly and I want to say a big thank you to them for taking time out of their schedules to welcome me.
 

On the start finish line

Now a little bit about this fantastic circuit. The pit straight and spectator area alongside are awesome. Fans can really get up close and personal to all the racing action. The circuits undulations are beautiful, with the challenges of downhill chicanes and short sharp uphill bursts. It's setting is also stunning, green and leafy for most. Plus inside the first 'bocht' (corner) - the Kanaalbocht - there are huge solar panels which are quite spectacular to crane your neck up to look at  and very eco friendly! For me, even though I loved each part of this circuit, the part I seemed to enjoy most each time were the GillesVilleneuve Bocht/Terlamenbocht. 

My fave section!

I did three laps of this little gem of a circuit, and in my sleepy state I think think I did pretty well. Thank you to my husband for contacting Zolder when we found out I was no longer able to run round Spa Francorchamps circuit. I have to say I didn't feel let down one bit. Spa Francorchamps is a wonderful circuit and so is Zolder!!! The Belgians seem to have a real talent in creating amazing racing circuits.

On the podium!

This weekend Zolder is hosting Clean Week 2020, which I spoke about in my previous blog. I had a preview of some of the vehicles....

 

I want this one....so cute!

As you can probably tell I am a fan of Circuit Zolder - Ik vind het tof (i really like it)! Plus on arriving back from Zolder I have received a further £57 of sponsorship for Challenge 1000 which has made me really really happy! Thank you to all those who have sponsored me, my body is so sore and knowing others are recognising the causes I am running for means a great deal to me.

I am going to keep on racking up the km's for now and am about to go for a run now. In terms of motor racing circuits my next stop....Rockingham!!! I will keep you posted.



Zolder to the Rescue!

This week I had the very disappointing news that my run in aid of Challenge 1000, due to take place at the Circuit de Spa Francorchamps, could no longer go ahead as I found out that the race track itself will be in use the day I arranged with them to run on it!!! Grrrrr! I had booked travel to Belgium and accomodation in advance and it looked like the trip was going to be for no reason......

However..... Circuit Zolder came to the rescue and kindly invited me to come and run on their race track. From 5-6th May the circuit is holding its annual CleanWeek2020 event. Clean Week 2020 aims at providing an annual review of future oriented technologies in the fields of mobility and environment, blended into an appealing mix of sporty, educational, technological and recreational elements.

In the 1970's and 80's Zolder hosted the F1 Belgian Grand Prix. On May 8, 1982, Gilles Villeneuve died after an accident during the final qualifying session for the Belgian Grand Prix at Zolder. I will be running this circuit a week before the 30th anniversary of his death. His son, Jacques Villeneuve, was the F1 World Champion in 1997. The Grand Prix circuit in Montreal is named after his father.

In 2008 the Top Gear team visited this circuit, with Jeremy Clarkson racing one of my favourite people of all time - the awesome Sabine Schmitz -to do a Top Gear vs The Germans challenge racing Mini Cooper Hatchcbacks.  

Already I feel a great fondness for this circuit and I am looking forward to getting to know it a little better :-)