Ecclestone doubles fee for 2011 Turkish GP E-mail

Dec.18 (GMM)  The last Turkish grand prix could be held in 2010, after Bernie Ecclestone told organisers the race promotion fee will be almost doubled for 2011.

The Istanbul based Hurriyet daily said on Friday the F1 chief executive has in a letter demanded $26 million per race from the Turkish government beginning in 2011, up from a previous $13.5m.

The newspaper said Ecclestone wants a decision by the end of December.

It is reported that the 79-year-old said in his letter to sports minister Faruk Nafiz Ozak that countries like India are offering as much as $30m per race.

But an unnamed Turkish official said: "In countries such as France and Germany, the formula one CEO is requesting something between $1.5 million and $4 million."

Turkey hosted its first F1 race at the purpose-built Istanbul Park in 2005, earning rave reviews for its unique turn 8, but a conspicuously small crowd numbering just 30,000 turned up for this year's race day.

In 2007, Ecclestone agreed to rent the track until 2021.

 
Bahrain GP - Sakhir
Friday practice 1 07.00
Friday practice 2 11.00
Saturday practice08.00
Qualifying11.00
Race12.00
times are CET

2010 Calendar

RaceGrand Prix Date
1Bahrain GP 14 March
2Australian GP 28 March
3Malaysian GP 4 April
4Chinese GP 18 April
5Spanish GP 9 May
6Monaco GP 16 May
7Turkish GP 30 May
8Canadian GP 13 June
9European GP 27 June
10British GP11 July
11German GP 25 July
12Hungarian GP 1 August
13Belgian GP 29 August
14Italian GP 12 September
15Singapore GP 26 September
16Japanese GP 3 October
17Korean GP 17 October
18Abu Dhabi GP 31 October
19Brazilian GP 14 November
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2Sebastian Vettel75
3 Rubens Barrichello72

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TEAMS
1Brawn GP161
2Red Bull135,5
3McLaren71