The Turkish Grand Prix’s future appears to be in doubt with local officials said to be baulking at a doubling of the fees demanded to keep the race for 2012.
The current contract at Istanbul Park runs until this year, and discussions are ongoing between organisers and Formula 1 commercial chiefs about an extension.
However, Murat Yalçintas, head of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, revealed on his private Twitter account on Thursday that the situation did not look promising - with the race-hosting fee jumping from $13 million (USD) this year to $26 million for 2012. Yahoo! Eurosport UK
“It looks like the Formula One race will not be held in Istanbul next year,” Murat Yalcintas said on his Twitter account.
There was no official statement but the Chamber of Commerce confirmed the comments separately to Reuters. Ecclestone’s office was closed for the Easter holiday.
“Because it found this figure very high it looks like it (finance ministry) will not make the payment. That is the reason the race is not happening,” he said.
Ecclestone said last May that Turkey could expect to stay on the F1 calendar long-term despite attracting poor crowds at the circuit near Istanbul’s second airport on the Asian side of the Bosphorus strait.
The current contract runs out after this year’s grand prix on May 8.
Turkey’s absence from the calendar will make it easier for Ecclestone to slot in the planned return to the United States next year, with a new track in Austin, Texas, pencilled in for a likely back-to-back with Canada. Times of India
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