With the 4.3 kilometer long Circuit Park Zandvoort, the FIA Historic Formula 2 Championship had chosen an attractive location directly on the Dutch North Sea coast for its next race. Still under the impression of the two podium places from Hockenheim, the goal for Wolfgang Kaufmann was clear: against the strong competition again, places on the winner's podium should be achieved!

Kaufmann therefore took a gamble in qualifying and saved the good new slicks for the two sprint races. "I know Zandvoort very well," said Kaufmann. "So I was able to estimate the risk with the used tires from Hockenheim." Despite old rubber on the March 782 BMW, the Moslberger drove the fourth fastest time in the Formula 2 field, which meant a place in the second row of the grid.

But in the first race of the weekend the patience of the pilots was put to the test. An accident involving two competitors after the traffic light had switched to "green" immediately interrupted the racing action. Although the red flag was shown, there was no regular restart, instead the field was sent back on the road behind the safety car. A crucial detail, as will be shown later. When the road was finally free, Wolfgang Kaufmann was able to quickly move up to second place and successfully defend it in the remaining laps. The "winner's podium" mission seemed accomplished and Kaufmann made his way to the podium. However, a time penalty of 10 seconds for a false start was added to the result after the race, meaning that Kaufmann was rated fifth. "When driving back into the starting position, the car made a slight jerk forward on the clutch," Kaufmann explains the penalty. "And since the race was not restarted completely, an addition of 10 seconds for a jump start was considered justified".
Full attack on Sunday in race 2!
This time the start went without any direct interruption and the “Piranha” was finally able to show its teeth. From position 5, the path led him up to second position in just a few laps. And the hunt for the leader was also successful, because the gap was shrinking lap by lap. But halfway through the race, the duel was decided by technology. "Suddenly he slowed down and I was able to pass," said Kaufmann, whose March 782 ran like clockwork. Victory on Sunday was finally certain and the trophy handover on the main stage was certain.

"The grandstands in Zandvoort were packed again, so the backdrop was incredibly motivating!", Wolfgang Kaufmann summed up. "In addition, the demanding circuit in Zandvoort is always nice for us drivers". The 2023 FIA Historic Formula 2 season has been extremely successful so far with one win and two podiums in four races. With the Nürburgring at the Oldtimer GP and Dijon, there are other races on the program.

Just one week after his successful appearance in the Historic Formula 2, Wolfgang Kaufmann will be back at the start in Zandvoort next weekend. At the second event of the Prototype Cup Germany, the Piranha drives a Ligier LMP3 prototype from the Spanish team AF2 Motorsport together with the American Robert Doyle.