Formula One hasn't raced at the Nürburgring since 2013, but according the latest reports state it may return by 2017 at the earliest.
Since 2007 the German Grand Prix has alternated between two of the country's premier racing circuits: Hockenheim and the Nürburgring. A reciprocal agreement saw the race switching venues each year until last, when the Nürburgring's new owners refused to put up the requisite funds, and Hockenheim declined to take its place. So the German GP was left off of this year's calendar – a void filled, in part, by the nearby Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg.
Next year's calendar already includes the German Grand Prix to be held at Hockenheim once again. And according to Autosport, negotiations are currently under way between the track's new owners and Bernie Ecclestone's Formula One Management to bring the race back to the Nürburgring. Track management warns that the deal would have to make financial sense in order for the race to take place, and local and federal governments in Germany are unlikely to subsidize the enormous licensing fees associated with securing such an event.
Before anyone gets too excited over the prospect of seeing modern F1 cars zipping around the Nordschleife, we should point out that the race would, once again, be held on the GP Strecke. The last time the German Grand Prix was held on the famous Nordschleife was in 1976 when Niki Lauda suffered his famously incendiary crash. A second circuit was built adjacent in 1984 specifically to bring F1 back to the site, which it did in 1985. The grand prix subsequently moved back to Hockenheim for the next two decades before the current reciprocating arrangement was brokered.
In the absence of an F1 race this year, the Nürburgring hosted new races for both the FIA World Endurance Championship and the World Touring Car Championship. Of course the VLN series continues racing at the legendary circuit, as does the Blancpain Endurance Series (formerly known as the FIA GT Series) along with numerous other lower-level racing series.
Since 2007 the German Grand Prix has alternated between two of the country's premier racing circuits: Hockenheim and the Nürburgring. A reciprocal agreement saw the race switching venues each year until last, when the Nürburgring's new owners refused to put up the requisite funds, and Hockenheim declined to take its place. So the German GP was left off of this year's calendar – a void filled, in part, by the nearby Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg.
Next year's calendar already includes the German Grand Prix to be held at Hockenheim once again. And according to Autosport, negotiations are currently under way between the track's new owners and Bernie Ecclestone's Formula One Management to bring the race back to the Nürburgring. Track management warns that the deal would have to make financial sense in order for the race to take place, and local and federal governments in Germany are unlikely to subsidize the enormous licensing fees associated with securing such an event.
Before anyone gets too excited over the prospect of seeing modern F1 cars zipping around the Nordschleife, we should point out that the race would, once again, be held on the GP Strecke. The last time the German Grand Prix was held on the famous Nordschleife was in 1976 when Niki Lauda suffered his famously incendiary crash. A second circuit was built adjacent in 1984 specifically to bring F1 back to the site, which it did in 1985. The grand prix subsequently moved back to Hockenheim for the next two decades before the current reciprocating arrangement was brokered.
In the absence of an F1 race this year, the Nürburgring hosted new races for both the FIA World Endurance Championship and the World Touring Car Championship. Of course the VLN series continues racing at the legendary circuit, as does the Blancpain Endurance Series (formerly known as the FIA GT Series) along with numerous other lower-level racing series.
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