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.
