Turkish Grand Prix may leave F1

The Turkish Formula One Grand Prix may be leaving the calendar in 2011. According to local media Bernie Ecclestone has almost doubled the price of the contract to keep the race after next year, which might mean that the 2010 Turkish Grand Prix could be the final one in Istanbul.

Turkish media states that the new contract presented by Ecclestone raises the price to ensure that Turkey stages a Formula One round after 2010 to 26 million dollars.

This puts in jeopardy the Turkish Grand Prix that is already struggling to attract fans to the race. According to the organizers, for this year’s race only 36,000 three-day tickets have been sold in a circuit that has the capacity for 130,000 fans.

The new contract conditions, including the increased fee, have already been sent by Ecclestone to Faruk Nafiz Ozak, the Turkish state minister responsible for sporting events, according to the Hurriyet Daily News

Turkish officials consider this fee unfair, comparing to France or Germany where “the Formula One CEO is requesting something between 1.5 million dollars and 4 million dollars”.

Decision about the future of the Turkish Grand Prix should be taken by the end of the month.