F1 rumour: Turkish Grand Prix may return on calendar

Latest F1 rumours are that Turkish F1 grand prix will have return on the F1 calender.

Formula one raced at the Hermann Tilke-penned Istanbul Park - featuring the famous four-apex Turn 8 corner - between 2005 and 2011.

Bernie Ecclestone and race organisers could not agree a new race fee for 2012 and beyond.

But late last week, British journalist Bob Mackenzie, of the Daily Express, revealed that the F1 chief executive is "pushing for a return" of the Turkish event, "after ruling out a French race".

Greek website gocar.gr said the decision will be made in the coming week.

Turkey's change of fortune is due to a local businessman, Vural Ak, buying the circuit's management rights.

"I've known Bernie Ecclestone for many years," he said.

Ak, who is willing to pay $5m out of his own pocket, said Ecclestone is asking for a $26 million fee for the race.

He said the Turkish government is willing to put in $13.5 million, "So we are close to the sum of about $20 million a year".

Ecclestone said: "It is an issue that we would be happy to discuss with those responsible.

"We would very much like to return to Turkey."

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Leopold

Leopold Pleijsier founded F1-Fansite.com in 2001 and has followed Formula 1 since the early 1980s. He writes about daily F1 news, race weekends, drivers and the sport’s history.

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