Environmental groups are going to court in an effort to stop work on improving the Zandvoort race track as part of preparations to stage a Grand Prix next year, Trouw reported on Friday.

Diggers have already begun carving out a sound barrier to the west of the track but the green groups say this is unacceptable because the permits to carry out the work have not yet been awarded.

The Formula 1 organisation aims to stage the first Dutch Grand Prix in 35 years in Zandvoort in May 2020, meaning the timetable is tight to carry out all the relevant work.

However, the permits have not yet been finalised, and once they are, protestors still have six weeks to lodge complaints.

They argue that it is ‘incomprehensible’ that the council has allowed work to start before the permits have been finalised because it makes a mockery of the planning rules.