Bernie Ecclestone has admitted he will be disappointed if Germany's Hockenheimring circuit falls off the Formula One calendar.

As the track annually alternates hosting the race with the Nurburgring, Hockenheim was not due to reappear on the calendar until 2010.

But circuit bosses have said that without a discount in F1 Chief Executive Ecclestone's promotion fee, the already loss-making event will not be able to be organised for next year.

Apparently referring to the circuit redevelopment of 2002, the 78-year-old billionaire told Germany's Sport Bild: "It is some time ago that I was involved with a large investment into the Hockenheimring. I will be unhappy if it disappears from the calendar.”

It is reported that the circuit will make a final decision about the 2010 event in mid March.


Ecclestone said the responsibility for subsidising sports events should fall on the state, as is the case for the organisation of the Olympic Games.

"It is very much in the interests of a country to keep one of the top brands of sport," he added, hinting that there is no need for him to back down.

"We have more people who want races than we can do in any one season," the Briton is quoted as saying by the German magazine.

Source: GMM
© CAPSIS International

 

what is with all of these stories about dropping tracks?

 

It's just Bernie trying to bully these tracks into coming up with more money.