Hockenheim to exit F1 in 2008

UPDATE (GMM) At a meeting last week, the F1 Commission got a sneak preview of the 2007 grand prix calendar — and Hockenheim was missing.

With Spa-Francorchamps promising to give Bernie Ecclestone's circus a tax cut if it returns to Belgium next year, the German grand prix is to be the casualty of teams not wanting to return to 19 races.

Suzuka is also in trouble, with Toyota-run Fuji joining the club to host the Japan round.

Local government minister Gerhard Stratthaus told 'dpa' that Bernie's desire to lop a German event off the calendar is 'understandable'.

''But we are still negotiating about the possibility of alternating (year by year) with the Nurburgring,'' the Baden-Wurttemberg official added.

Hockenheim mayor Dieter Gummer, meanwhile, said he would like to know an official decision by the end of September this year.

03/09/06 (GMMf1NET) Hockenheim could bid farewell to formula one in 2008, the circuit's boss admitted this week.

Dieter Gummer, managing director at the German grand prix venue and also mayor of Hockenheim, told the 'Stuttgarter Zeitung' newspaper that the facility is $35 million in debt and may not seek a new contract with Bernie Ecclestone after the event in 2008.

''It costs us too much to have F1,'' he said.