• Turkish Grand Prix

Ecclestone hopes for Turkey deal

ESPNF1 Staff
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Bernie Ecclestone controls the management rights to the Istanbul Park circuit © Sutton Images
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Bernie Ecclestone has said that he hopes a deal can still be reached to extend the contract of the Turkish Grand Prix.

Race organisers last week said that the future of the race was in doubt, with the head of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, Murat Yalcinta, claiming that Ecclestone had asked for the race fee to be doubled when the contract expires following this year's race. The race struggles to make money from ticket sales, with 200,000 spectators at the inaugural race in 2005 falling to around 35,000 in recent seasons.

Despite new races in India, the United States and Russia being added to the calendar over the next few seasons, Ecclestone has said he hasn't given up on agreeing new terms for the race at Istanbul Park to continue.

"The race brings a huge amount of people, trade and publicity to the city," Ecclestone told the Daily Express. "I am a bit disappointed and I hope we can work out a deal."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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