Breaking news

Formula 1

Bernie in love with Turkey again

After the failure of a French GP comeback, it appears that Formula One could return to Turkey.

GMM

Edited: Dec 1, 2012, 5:07 PM

Copy link

Share on Viber

Add as a preferred source

Dec.1 (GMM) Moves are afoot to revive the defunct Turkish Grand Prix.

Formula one raced at the Hermann Tilke-penned Istanbul Park - featuring the famous four-apex Turn 8 corner - between 2005 and 2011.

Bernie Ecclestone and race organisers could not agree a new race fee for 2012 and beyond.

But late last week, British journalist Bob Mackenzie, of the Daily Express, revealed that the F1 chief executive is "pushing for a return" of the Turkish event, "after ruling out a French race".

Greek website gocar.gr said the decision will be made in the coming week.

2011 Turkish Grand Prix.

Photo by: xpb.cc

Turkey's change of fortune is due to a local businessman, Vural Ak, buying the circuit's management rights.

"I've known Bernie Ecclestone for many years," he said.

Ak, who is willing to pay $5m out of his own pocket, said Ecclestone is asking for a $26 million fee for the race.

He said the Turkish government is willing to put in $13.5 million, "So we are close to the sum of about $20 million a year".

Ecclestone said: "It is an issue that we would be happy to discuss with those responsible.

"We would very much like to return to Turkey."

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?

Take our 5 minute survey.

- The Motorsport.com Team

Read and post comments

Share Or Save This Story

Copy link

Share on Viber

Previous article F1 is 'a world without pity' - Grosjean

Next article Party time for Vettel and Red Bull

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

View More & Comment

Latest news

Kaden Honeycutt wins incident-free Phoenix NASCAR Truck race, extends points lead

NASCAR Truck

NSTR NASCAR Truck

Phoenix

2 h

Kaden Honeycutt wins incident-free Phoenix NASCAR Truck race, extends points lead

GTA VI 'Vice City' blimp to appear at NASCAR championship weekend

NASCAR Cup

NAS NASCAR Cup

Phoenix II

7 h

GTA VI 'Vice City' blimp to appear at NASCAR championship weekend

Verstappen Racing struggles to 15th as Porsche takes emotional Portimao pole

GT World Challenge Europe Endurance

WCEE GT World Challenge Europe Endurance 8 h

Verstappen Racing struggles to 15th as Porsche takes emotional Portimao pole

Franco Colapinto urges fans to stop the abuse: “You’re not helping me or my future”

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

Singapore GP

12 h

Franco Colapinto urges fans to stop the abuse: “You’re not helping me or my future”

Feature

Discover prime content

Lights, Camara, action: How Haas picked F1's latest rookie for 2027

Formula 1

Singapore GP

By Jake Boxall-Legge

Lights, Camara, action: How Haas picked F1's latest rookie for 2027

Employing team orders can simply be a matter of common sense

Formula 1

By Kevin Turner

Employing team orders can simply be a matter of common sense

Why Christian Horner sees history repeating itself for Adrian Newey at Aston Martin

Formula 1

Singapore GP

By Ronald Vording

Why Christian Horner sees history repeating itself for Adrian Newey at Aston Martin

Laurent Mekies under the microscope: How different is his leadership at Red Bull from Christian Horner?

Formula 1

Singapore GP

By Ronald Vording

Laurent Mekies under the microscope: How different is his leadership at Red Bull from Christian Horner?

Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.

From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.

You have 2 options:

Become a subscriber.
Disable your adblocker.

Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here

Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page

Manage Alerts