Markfort targets Nürburgring-Hockenheim alternation
New race stops in the 2020 Formula 1 program which will see “back on track” the German Grand Prix that will be hosted at the Nürburgring from 9 to 11 October.
The calendar for the 2020 F1 season was updated yesterday with three new race "stops". Among these circuits there is also the Nürburgring which will host the Grand Prix from 9 to 11 October.
The managing director of the German circuit, Mirco Markfort, hopes that the unexpected reintegration of the Nürburgring into the F1 program scheduled for this year will reach an agreement regarding its extension and thus host the German Grand Prix in the future.
The leaders of the circuit said that the ideal would be to resume the past agreement whereby the German Grand Prix was shared with the other German track, the Hockenheimring in Baden-Wurttemburg.
In fact, between 1994 and 2006, the Grand Prix was held every year on both tracks while later the location of the race was alternated between the two. At least until after the Nürburgring stopped hosting the Grand Prix after 2013 due to financial problems.
Subsequently, until 2018, the German Grand Prix was hosted at the Hockenheimring only in even years.
Last year, Hockenheim agreed on a deal to be able to hold the Grand Prix, but they failed to agree on the right conditions to make it appear on the 2020 Formula 1 program.
With the absence of Hockenheim in the 2020 F1 calendar due to the outbreak of the pandemic, the German Grand Prix has been added and will be hosted at the Nürburgring although the event will take the name of Aramco Eifel Grand Prix.
In an interview, Mirco Markfort said he is still in contact with the world of Formula 1: “We were always in contact with Formula 1,
“In the past few weeks, the discussions have intensified and thank god we have come to a deal that is fair for both sides and just fits.”
In addition, Markfort is determined to seek an agreement that can bring Formula 1 back to racing on both German circuits in the future.
“The best model for us would be if we could come back to such an alternating solution,
“We are concentrating on this year for the time being and we will see everything that comes afterwards,
“Whether with our colleagues in Hockenheim or with us, it’s good that Germany hasn’t completely disappeared from the map, which was the case before the season.” he said.
