AUGUST 4, 1997
Two German races until 2001
There are now 16 Grands Prix with long-term contracts - not including Portugal - which means that the only way F1 is going to get any new races is by adding to the calendar rather than switching venues. We must thus expect a minimum of 18 races a year in 1999 and probably 20 by the turn of the century.
The deal is with Hockenheimring GmbH - which is part-owned by the Badische Motorsport Club and by city of Hockenheim. The company sub-contracts the promotion of the Grand Prix to one of Bernie Ecclestone's own companies, which is part of the Formula One Holdings empire.