German F1 decision casts doubt on survival of track

The fate of the Hockenheimring is at stake as it is announced that the Nurburgring will host the F1 German GP for the next 5 years. Photo / AP

A new agreement about the Formula One future of the German Grand Prix at Nurburgring has left in doubt the fate of the other F1 race track in Germany, Hockenheimring.

Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone and new Nurburgring owner Robertino Wild agreed on Tuesday that the German Grand Prix will take place annually at the Nurburgring course for five years, starting in 2015.

The news was released by the Capricorn Nurburgring GmbH (CNG), which is run by Wild.

The move leaves in doubt the future of the Hockenheimring since it and the Nurburgring had alternated as hosts of the German Grand Prix.

There was no immediate word on what would happen to the German Grand Prix races planned for Hockenheimring in 2016 and 2018.

The chief executive of the Hockheimring course Georg Seiler had assumed the Formula One races would be run on his track as planned in 2016 and 2018 - and contractually agreed upon.

"I have always known and respected Mr Ecclestone as a fair and good partner," Sieler said.

When asked about a report in the Rhein Zeitung talking about the new arrangement, Seiler added: "The fact is that I was surprised by the news."

Fans of both tracks had worried for years whether the F1 would remain in Germany given increasing financial problems at both places.

Ecclestone was eventually convinced to allow the German F1 race to switch back and forth between the two venues.

With the Nurburgring nearing bankruptcy, CNG boss Wild jumped in to save the race track. And now he wants the race every season.

-AAP