Circuit Park Zandvoort

Hans Ernst

Hans Ernst (1947-2019) knew the Zandvoort circuit like the back of his hand as a former racer when he took on the role of circuit director in 1988. As the circuit owner, Ernst was the driving force behind the Zandvoort circuit for more than 25 years. With his insight, decisiveness, and entrepreneurial courage, he secured the future of the company both sportively and economically.

For Hans, there has always been only one party who could manage his legacy: racing enthusiasts Bernhard van Oranje and his business partner Menno de Jong. When Bernhard's situation drastically changed, Hans didn't settle for less. In consultation with Ferdi Kramer of Rembrandt M&A, he waited for the right moment. Advisor Ferdi talks about thinking out-of-the-box, love for your business, and a 'golden match.'

Ferdi: "Everything about Hans exuded motorsport. When the Formula 1 era at the circuit came to an end in the late 1980s, Hans more than made up for it with his entrepreneurship and vision. He brought in races like Formula 3 and DTM and initiated the historic Grand Prix. Additionally, he ensured excellent occupancy for the rental of the circuit, including to racing teams as a test circuit and for corporate events. Everything in service of motorsport."

When Hans turned sixty-five in 2012, he approached Rembrandt M&A to find a party that could continue his greatest mission. In total, we spoke to about forty parties; circuit owners abroad, car brands, real estate companies, hospitality, events... However, there were very few candidates among them to whom Hans would entrust his life's work.

We also had discussions with Chapman Andretti Partners, two legendary names from Formula 1. Behind them were Menno de Jong and Bernhard van Oranje. This party truly had the best intentions for motorsport in the Netherlands.

Bernhard was, and still is, a successful driver in the Formula GT4 class, but both men also knew how the industry works. They wanted to absolutely prioritize Zandvoort as a motorsport location. Moreover, they were successful entrepreneurs who had already made their mark in IT and real estate. If there was one party capable of realizing the dream of bringing Formula 1 back to Zandvoort in the future, it was this one.

I will never forget what Hans said to me after they left: 'I do wish it to those guys.' A simple sentence in which everything he cared about was encapsulated: continuing what he had built.

Everything seemed to be going smoothly. Until the day before signing the letter of intent, we received a dramatic phone call. In August 2013, Bernhard was diagnosed with lymphoma. The negotiations were temporarily halted by Chapman Andretti. Although Hans had plenty of other opportunities to sell the circuit, he decided to put the entire process on hold.

Fortunately, Bernhard recovered from the illness, and negotiations resumed at the beginning of 2015. That process would take exactly another year, with several excellent negotiators at the table. The fact that Hans decided to put the sales process on hold earlier was a significant decision that only strengthened the mutual respect between the parties.

Ferdi Kramer

"Everyone knew: there were still so many parties ready to take over the negotiating baton. So we were by no means in a weak position. Hans fully trusted our knowledge and expertise. In conclusion, I can assure you that everyone is happy with the outcomes of the process. A process of trust and a lot of patience, in the fastest sport in the world," Ferdi says with a smile.

Contact Ferdi

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