F1 News: Dutch GP Reaches Last Minute Agreement With Protestors

The protesting taxi drivers had created quite a scene and threatened to disrupt the Dutch GP.

Finally, the taxi driver protests seem to have ended peacefully in the Zandvoort region, right on time for the Dutch GP race weekend. It was expected yesterday that the authorities and the taxi drivers would arrive at a compromise but that wasn't certain considering the drivers' demands. 

Around 150 taxi drivers had threatened to block the roads leading to the CM.com Circuit Zandvoort after they were disallowed to enter the area around the circuit during the race weekend. What aggrieved them more was that a special permit was given to taxi drivers operating outside the town, allowing them to operate in Zandvoort.

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Sensing injustice from the authorities during a period when their earning potential is at an all-time high due to the Grand Prix race weekend, the drivers decided to hold protests over the past week. Fortunately, extensive discussions with the town municipality have resulted in a fruitful end to the disagreements. 

As a result of the compromise, the taxi drivers have been allowed to drive as far as the municipality of Zandvoort but not to the track. This means that the drivers are permitted near the circuit so the last mile journey would have to be made by fans using other means of transport or, by hiring taxis that have the permit to access roads near the circuit. 

The compromise is a win-win decision for the municipality, the taxi drivers, and F1 as the spokesperson for the protesting taxi drivers has said that they would refrain from taking any further action.  

However, as per RacingNews365, the taxi drivers who held a permit to operate in Zandvoort- whether the permit is illegal or not, are irked by the municipality's decision since they don't hold the 'special status' anymore that their permit gave them. It is unknown yet if the taxi drivers with the permit would hold any sort of protest during the Dutch GP to display their anger and dissatisfaction.