The Turkish Grand Prix may be dropped from the calendar in 2012 following news that officials have refused to agree to a price increase.
Murat Yalcintas, head of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, tweeted on the matter, saying: “It looks like the Formula One race will not be held in Istanbul next year.
“Because it [the government] found this figure very high, it looks like it will not make the payment.
“That is the reason the race is not happening,” he added, also confirming the news to a local newspaper, the Hurriyet Daily.
The F1 Times can confirm that Yalcintas Twitter account is genuine.
If the government fail to agree to a reported increase from £7.8 million ($13m) to £15.7m ($26m) then this year’s race, the next on the calendar, will be its last.
The move could be a deliberate one from Bernie Ecclestone as the event is unpopular with locals who fail to fill the grandstands. The majority of attendees are foreign, opting to travel to the country for the cheap tickets.
With the American Grand Prix joining next year and a cap of 20 races per annum, Ecclestone is forced to drop one event, though it’s unusual he would opt to drop a track which is owned by himself.
Discussion about this post