From GMM
Walter Kafitz, the boss of the German formula one circuit at the Nurburgring, has rejected suggestions the country could soon be permanently unrepresented on the sport's annual calendar.
The Nurburgring currently alternates the privilege of staging a single annual grand prix in Germany with Hockenheim.
But it has emerged that, without state support, Hockenheim will not host races in 2010 or beyond.
Although carrying similar financial losses, however, the Nurburgring is happy to continue to organise grands prix into the future, Kafitz told the German news agency SID.
"The Hockenheimring is clearly in a worse situation to us," he said.
He revealed that even in Hockenheim's absence, the Nurburgring will seek a new contract, covering the period beginning in 2011, to host formula one every two years.
"We regard a race every two years as a good compromise between the benefits to the region and what it costs us," Kafitz said.
But a BMW spokesman told Duetsche Press-Agentur: "Germany is an important market for BMW, where we have a big fan base. Formula one should not lose its traditional arenas. A solution has to be found here."
Canada and France recently dropped off the 2009 calendar, as the sport looks increasingly to Asia and the Middle East.
Mercedes' motor racing chief Norbert Haug said: "Of course we are interested that German formula one fans have at least one grand prix in Germany, especially as until recently they had two per season."
There are five German drivers - a quarter of the grid - in formula one, while the Toyota team is based in Cologne.
photo:Renault F1 Team
Walter Kafitz, the boss of the German formula one circuit at the Nurburgring, has rejected suggestions the country could soon be permanently unrepresented on the sport's annual calendar.
The Nurburgring currently alternates the privilege of staging a single annual grand prix in Germany with Hockenheim.
But it has emerged that, without state support, Hockenheim will not host races in 2010 or beyond.
Although carrying similar financial losses, however, the Nurburgring is happy to continue to organise grands prix into the future, Kafitz told the German news agency SID.
"The Hockenheimring is clearly in a worse situation to us," he said.
He revealed that even in Hockenheim's absence, the Nurburgring will seek a new contract, covering the period beginning in 2011, to host formula one every two years.
"We regard a race every two years as a good compromise between the benefits to the region and what it costs us," Kafitz said.
But a BMW spokesman told Duetsche Press-Agentur: "Germany is an important market for BMW, where we have a big fan base. Formula one should not lose its traditional arenas. A solution has to be found here."
Canada and France recently dropped off the 2009 calendar, as the sport looks increasingly to Asia and the Middle East.
Mercedes' motor racing chief Norbert Haug said: "Of course we are interested that German formula one fans have at least one grand prix in Germany, especially as until recently they had two per season."
There are five German drivers - a quarter of the grid - in formula one, while the Toyota team is based in Cologne.
photo:Renault F1 Team