26/07/2006
NEWS STORY
Officials representing the Hockenheim and Nurburgring circuits will meet with Bernie Ecclestone (right) this weekend to officially agree a deal which will see the two tracks host the German Grand Prix in alternate years starting next year, when the Nurburgring will host the event.
The decision to 'share' the event is the result of both tracks finding it difficult to manage financially in the face of ever increasing costs and dwindling spectator numbers.
It is though that a similar arrangement could be seen in Italy, which has two races, while Japan is hoping to gain an additional event, following the decision to move the country's Grand Prix to the Toyota-owned Mount Fuji.
The 'sharing' deal will suit Ecclestone since it now gives him two 'extra' events to play with, one of them the European Grand Prix, which has been linked with a number of venues.
This weekend's Grand Prix will be Hockenheim's 30th, while the Nurburgring - in various guises - has hosted 36 Grands Prix since 1951.