Bernie Ecclestone insists he wants to sign a new race contract with beleaguered German venue the Nurburgring.
At present, the future of the biennial event looks grim, after the Rhineland-Palatinate state cancelled the circuit operator’s lease, and Nurburgring Automobile GmbH hit back by threatening legal action against the government.

Perhaps because F1′s current world champion Sebastian Vettel is German, and because Hockenheim only wants to host one race every two years, the sport’s chief executive Ecclestone sounds keen on a solution.

“If the government finds a new partner who agrees to have the race, then I am more than happy to agree to a new contract,” the 81-year-old is quoted in the Rhein Zeitung newspaper.

“What we can make possible, we will make possible,” added Ecclestone.

The relevant state government minister Roger Lewentz told the same newspaper that he is prepared to meet with Ecclestone.

“We want to continue with formula one at the Nurburgring, but at a reasonable rate,” he said.

Ecclestone commented: “So far I have not heard from him (Lewentz).”

The future of the German grand prix at the Nurburgring looks set to race into the courts.
The Rhineland-Palatinate state this week said it intends to cancel the circuit operator’s lease, arguing that a bright future is “not possible” with the existing tenants.

Minister Roger Lewentz said he wants to personally take over the negotiations with Bernie Ecclestone about the future of the F1 race.

But according to the SID news agency, the operator Nurburgring Automotive GmbH (NAG) has announced it will fight back, including demanding “substantial amounts” from the government for the wrongful action.

“There is no reason for this extraordinary step,” NAG’s lawyer is quoted as saying.

The company’s spokesman said the situation is crucial to Germany’s future on the F1 calendar.

“Already, there are many candidates waiting for a (race) date to be available,” NAG spokesman Karl-Heinz Steinkuehler said.

“Without the Nurburgring, formula one would make probably only a guest appearance every two years in Germany, at the Hockenheimring,” he warned.

The minister Lewentz, however, said the government is ready for a fight, despite hoping for “an amicable solution” to the dispute with the operator.

“If not, a lengthy legal dispute cannot be ruled out,” he said. “We consider ourselves well prepared.”

The German grand prix will definitely revert as scheduled to the Nurburgring next year.
The track has recently been alternating the annual hosting of the formula one race with Hockenheim, with the arrangement originally set to run only until 2011.

But at Hockenheim last weekend, there were rumours that Bernie Ecclestone is so happy with his new arrangement with that circuit that he wants to return next season and beyond.

Last year, when Hockenheim said it could no longer afford the F1 chief executive’s race fees, Ecclestone agreed to share the “business risks and opportunities” with a new deal through 2018.

In the days before the race, attended by 65,000 spectators, organisers confirmed that the 2010 event was set to break even.

On Tuesday, operating company Nurburgring Automotive GmbH played down the rumours about Hockenheim now taking its place in F1.

“The fact that the race will take place (in 2011) is beyond question,” the company said according to the news agency SID, as advance ticket bookings commenced.

Late last year, local Rhineland-Palatinate state politicians said they wanted a new F1 contract for the Nurburgring with “more favourable conditions” and not “at any price”.