FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

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Off topic but I can say the same things about Fuji, Suzuka is the better choice.

[McLaren Fan]

From F1 Live:

Bernie Ecclestone may have intervened to save the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim in 2010 and beyond.

Last week, citing annual losses, the circuit-owning city said it would no longer be the promoter of the event, raising the prospect that F1 will not return to Hockenheim and Germany will be left off next year's calendar.

However Mayor Dieter Gummer left the door open to investors or a new promoter, and bookmarked a forthcoming meeting with F1 Chief Executive Ecclestone.

That meeting took place in London this week, Gummer afterwards telling the Mannheimer Morgen newspaper that he thinks a solution has been found to "keep Formula One with us in the next years."

"We discussed the different options," Gummer explained, "and now we as well as Bernie Ecclestone need to do our homework."

The German news agency SID said two solutions are most likely: that Ecclestone becomes the promoter or finds an investor, or that the Briton simply reduces the race promotion fee.

Source: GMM
© CAPSIS International

Like I said on another thread, it's not nice to see circuits struggling, but Hockenheim is not the track it once was. The Nürburgring is a much better track and, cash permitting, should really be the permanent home of the German Grand Prix.

[headless]

I have always loved Bernie...

[7UpJordan]

The German news agency SID said two solutions are most likely: that Ecclestone becomes the promoter or finds an investor, or that the Briton simply reduces the race promotion fee.

If the Hockenheim promoters manage to get Bernie to reduce his fee they'll need a medal!!

[headless]

The German news agency SID said two solutions are most likely: that Ecclestone becomes the promoter or finds an investor, or that the Briton simply reduces the race promotion fee.

If the Hockenheim promoters manage to get Bernie to reduce his fee they'll need a medal!!

And a drink

[McLaren Fan]

From autosport.com:

German GP in doubt for 2010 season

By Jonathan Noble Tuesday, July 14th 2009, 10:23 GMT

German GP startThe German Grand Prix's place on the 2010 Formula 1 calendar has been thrown into doubt after the Nurburgring said it would not step into the breach if Hockenheim cannot hold the event.

Nurburgring and Hockenheim have arranged a share deal by which they host the event on alternate years in a bid to minimise expenditure and maximise the returns from spectators.

However, Hockenheim officials are struggling to find the resources needed to hold the 2010 race, with the circuit's local city and state officials refusing to bankroll the grand prix any more.

Talks between Gunther Oettinger, the prime minister of Baden-Wurttemberg, and Bernie Ecclestone scheduled for last weekend to try and renegotiate the race fee for Hockenheim next year were cancelled in the wake of the recent Adolf Hitler controversy.

With doubts about the future of the race there, and last weekend's German GP being a success, there had been some hope that if Hockenheim fails to secure a deal then the Nurburgring could replace it.

However, Nurburgring's managing director Walter Kafitz has made it clear that his track was not in the running to hold a race in 2010.

"Definitely we are not available for next year, we are planning only for 2011," Kafitz told AUTOSPORT, before suggesting that only a reduction in the race fee would change his track's stance.

"Bernie could manage it [by reducing the fee], but I cannot imagine that he is willing to accept my wish."

Despite his stance about Nurburgring's future, Kafitz remained hopeful that a solution could be found to keep the German GP on the calendar - even though the situation is far from certain.

"I can't imagine having no F1 year in Germany," he explained. "I am very optimistic that we get Germany a solution for every year."

Kafitz has also vowed to look into the traffic problems that marred the build-up to last weekend's race, with some fans spending hours getting into the track on the Sunday morning.

"We must reconsider the situation after the race but the opposite [of bad traffic] is even worse," he said. "To come here very rapidly and have no spectators, that would be a nightmare for me. What we have to think is how can we improve the traffic next time, and I think every plan has a solution."

Kafitz said there were 100,000 spectators on race day, a 15 per cent rise from its 2006 race and a 5 per cent increase over its last race in 2007.

Unsurprising, but still worthy of posting. It's as well the British Grand Prix has been saved, because Formula One is already lacking Grands Prix which are pretty necessary for the series to be taken seriously (i.e., the US, France, and now Germany).