No Turkish Grand Prix in 2012

[ArrowsFA1]

Istanbul will not host a Formula One Grand Prix in 2012 due to a disagreement between Turkish officials and F1 commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone over payments to stage the race, Turkish media reported on Friday.

The Hurriyet daily quoted Murat Yalcintas, head of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce which backs the race in Turkey, as saying the government rejected a bid by Ecclestone to raise the payment to stage the race to $26 million from $13 million.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/0...73L01920110422

[truefan72]

its pathetic by bernie. simply pathetic.

Its a great track and given that the crowds were dwindling ( probably because of ticket prices) he chooses to double the fee to an absurd $26 million.
Meanwhile Germany and Spa managed to reduce their fee's and that was accepted.

Time for these tracks to say enough is enough, form a union and force bernie to reduce the rates.
If he doesn't like it then he can figure out how to host 20 GP's in the middle east and asia.

It is time for bernie and his thieving money laundering cohorts to exit the scene and allow a reasonable party to negotiate the fees.

All bernie is doing is trying to get his own cut out of the event regardless if it is a success or a failure. Then employs ridiculous tactics like this to effectively make the GP leave so he can bring in another one willing to pay his absurd rates.

He knew all along that Turkey would never go for double the fee and he simply wanted them gone.

simply pathetic

[truefan72]

I enjoy the track, but not enough people attend the race and with more money being demanded, its not surprising they can't afford to host.

maybe not enough people attend the race because the prices have skyrocketed, and maybe that has something to do with the asking price from bernie.

[gloomyDAY]

Sad to see the track leave the calendar, but there needs to be room for the U.S. Grand Prix.

[steveaki13]

Its a good track. One of the best new venues, it will be a shame to see this go, while Valencia and Abu Dabi stay on the circuit.

[gloomyDAY]

Its a good track. One of the best new venues, it will be a shame to see this go, while Valencia and Abu Dabi stay on the circuit.

Good point. Valencia is such a big waste of time. Why didn't that track get axed?

[ShiftingGears]

Good point. Valencia is such a big waste of time. Why didn't that track get axed?

Agreed - awful circuit. Hopefully this means that Turkey will end up back in the MotoGP calendar.

[TMorel]

Maybe all the good tracks can leave, then the top teams and Murdoch can buy an F1 consisting of Valencia, Bahrain, Abu Dabi and 24 HRT prepared cars

[Roamy]

I think from what I can see the track is quite good. I do think that trying to run a gp race in a predominately muslim country can the a tough job. Bernie should lower the ticket prices and really try to attract the population of the area to attend. Sometimes the education can far out weigh the monetary value

[F1boat]

its pathetic by bernie. simply pathetic.

Its a great track and given that the crowds were dwindling ( probably because of ticket prices) he chooses to double the fee to an absurd $26 million.
Meanwhile Germany and Spa managed to reduce their fee's and that was accepted.

Time for these tracks to say enough is enough, form a union and force bernie to reduce the rates.
If he doesn't like it then he can figure out how to host 20 GP's in the middle east and asia.

It is time for bernie and his thieving money laundering cohorts to exit the scene and allow a reasonable party to negotiate the fees.

All bernie is doing is trying to get his own cut out of the event regardless if it is a success or a failure. Then employs ridiculous tactics like this to effectively make the GP leave so he can bring in another one willing to pay his absurd rates.

He knew all along that Turkey would never go for double the fee and he simply wanted them gone.

simply pathetic

Well said!