Nurburgring racetrack confirmed for sale
The North Loop (Nordschleife) was built in the 1920s around the village of Nurburg in the Eifel Mountains. The track eventually featured four configurations including the 17.5-mile Gesamtstrecke (Whole Course), the 12.9-mile Nordschleife, the Sudschleife (South Loop) and the Zielschleife (Finish Loop). A new grand prix circuit was added in 1982; it is now used for all major events at the track.
In addition to the circuit, the Nurburgring complex now includes hotels, amusement rides, restaurants and other exhibits attracting thousands of tourists per year.
Initially there were about 50 buyers interested in the track at a selling price of 125 million Euros ($161 million), but now there are only between five and 10. Lieser assured the public that none of the buyers are “oligarchs or sheiks" who may make the track private.
Mike Frison, a vocal supporter of the 'Ring, has launched savethering.org and maintains a Facebook page and Twitter account dedicated to the track. He recently did an interview on bridgetogantry.com explaining why he's nervous about the possible sale.
“The highest bidder buys the 'Ring and maximizes his profits to justify the investment. Grassroots motorsport will disappear (it's not earning real money) as well as local companies. Their services will be routed through the new 'Ring owner's monopoly," Frison told bridgetogantry.com. “We have seen clear tendency of that in the Richter/Lindner era over the last two years. Accessibility and track time will only be a question of money. All events we know today are at risk, especially the tourist drives, which are an old dinosaur from the past. From day one to be precise, and it would be such a loss. You couldn't blame a private host to turn away from that, but for the atmosphere and the region it would be a disaster." AutoWeek