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Nurburgring facing funding uncertainty

ESPNF1 Staff
April 19, 2011 « Finance blow for Austin development | »
Juan Manuel Fangio heads the field before his first pit stop on his way to what many consider his greatest victory at the Nurburgring in 1957 © Getty Images
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A political alliance in Germany is reportedly endangering the future of the grand prix at the legendary Nurburgring.

Elections in the western Rhineland-Palatinate state were recently held and the ruling SPD party lost its absolute majority. The Green party, meanwhile, tripled its vote meaning that a ruling coalition has been formed, and according to DPA news agency this endangers state funding for the Nurburgring's F1 contract.

"I have nothing against car racing in the Eifel," said the Green state party chief Daniel Kobler. "I just have a problem if tax money is needed to ensure that more millions and billions are reaped in profits [by F1].

"In the negotiations with the SPD, we will work to permanently remove the subsidies for the 'Ring in the foreseeable future," Kobler added.

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