It may have been a bit early for a sleepless night, but local residents would not have missed it: just before sunset, Thierry Boutsen let the roar of the ‘most powerful engine in Formula 1 history’ echo over Circuit Zandvoort again after nearly forty years. In the so-called shakedown, the Arrows from 1985, restored by Ernest Knoors, was tested for the last time, as a prelude to the race weekend in Imola, where the ‘special story’ around the Belgian former Formula 1 driver and the car will be relived in a demonstration.
Along the quiet row of pit boxes at Circuit Zandvoort, pit box 21 stands out. Just after 17:00, it is filled to the brim. Photographers, videographers, and leading figures from the Dutch motorsport world, including Jan Lammers, Tom Coronel, and Allard Kalf, have been summoned. Amidst all the attention stands a Belgian: none other than the 67-year-old three-time Grand Prix winner Thierry Boutsen, together with ‘his’ Arrows A8-BMW F1. After two years of restoration by Ernest Knoors and his team from Parabolica, the 1985 Formula 1 car will make its appearance again in less than two hours, after all these decades.
The final preparations are being made. GoPros are carefully mounted on the Arrows, the steering wheel is clicked into place, and the Goodyear tires are put on. Boutsen puts on his dark blue helmet, marked by two unbroken yellow-orange-red triple stripes that cross each other diagonally. Then he steps into the cockpit, starts the engine, and the deafening roar of the 1200 hp engine erupts. The usually tough motorsport audience shrinks for a moment. Those who are not wearing earplugs hastily put their fingers in their ears, and some even leave the pit box.
‘What a Rocket’
Boutsen’s first reaction afterwards perfectly mirrors that of the audience. “I had forgotten how much power this engine has. The car is also incredibly light, so the acceleration is unbelievable. When I first hit the gas, I was startled and thought: what a rocket,” he says, clearly still full of adrenaline. “I have a habit of not braking and in the end, I drove several laps, which means the automatic responses have returned,” he adds with a twinkle in his eyes.
Reunion with the Arrows
There’s a reason why Boutsen has been reunited with ‘his’ Arrows, last used in a Formula 1 race in 1986, after nearly 40 years. The so-called shakedown takes place on the circuit along the dunes and the North Sea, similar to a dress rehearsal. During the race weekend in Imola, from May 16 to 18, he will recreate a historic moment from Formula 1 history in a demonstration. At the 1985 San Marino Grand Prix (now called the Imola Grand Prix), Boutsen pushed the fuel-less Arrows over the finish line, resulting in a second-place finish due to the disqualification of Alain Prost. “This is the car with the most powerful engine in Formula 1 history, and it has a special story attached to it. It’s wonderful to be able to retell and show that again,” says Knoors.
Memories of Circuit Zandvoort
Boutsen cherishes good memories of Circuit Zandvoort, which, with some modifications, has been back on the Formula 1 calendar since 2021 after a 34-year absence. “I learned a lot here, as I raced here with the Formula ‘Fords’ in 1977 and 1978. It’s a bit slower now, but still very interesting. There are technical corners where a pilot can make a difference.”
Confidence
Knoors ran into Boutsen at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. “I said, ‘Thierry, we’re rebuilding your old car. Would you like to drive it?’ You can imagine, if you’ve driven to the limit in the past and now get the chance to experience that again, it’s fantastic.”
During the shakedown, Boutsen aborts his first lap and dives into the pit lane. Spectators along the pit wall notice and wonder if he will even cross the start-finish line. False alarm, Knoors explains later. “The car has been completely disassembled. During a shakedown, we take it easy. We let him drive a lap first and then check for things like leaks and loose screws. Then we gradually build up to full roadworthiness.”
“It was definitely exciting,” admits Knoors. “We’ve been working on it for two years. You think everything is fine, but in the end, it has to happen on the circuit. We still have a few small things to fine-tune, but we are confident that we will make a good impression.” Boutsen also has confidence for the demonstration in Imola, and not just a little. According to him, the Arrows is ‘100 percent’ ready for the challenge. “Everything has been thoroughly addressed and the revised engine feels like new, while this car was originally no longer drivable,” he beams.
A motorcyclist, having completed his circuit ride, waits patiently to ask for a photo with ‘Mr. Boutsen’. A man, seemingly of the same age as Boutsen, unabashedly expresses his admiration and makes the same request with a trembling voice. Ironically, it’s the children in line who aren’t clutching phones, but rather, are asking for autographs in the old-fashioned way with paper and pen. Knoors sees the broad smile on Boutsen’s face and suspects it will only be wider in Imola. “There, more people will be in the stands, and we’re returning to the circuit where he made history with this car,” he concludes.
