Hockenheim under threat

2008 race made €5.3 million loss

Last updated: 1st December 2008

Under threat: Lewis Hamilton leads the 2008 German Grand Prix

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Hockenheim could join the list of Formula One casualties after it was revealed that the track has hit financial difficulties.

Circuit boss Karl-Josef Schmidt said on Sunday that Hockenheim would not be able to host the German Grand Prix in the future unless the state could help finance the race.

"Without grants from the state (of Baden-Wuerttemberg) there will be no more Formula One in Hockenheim," Schmidt told the Der Tagesspiegel newspaper.

According to the report, this year's German Grand Prix made a loss of €5.3 million.

Hockenheim alternates as host of the German Grand Prix with the Nurburgring, where next year's race will be held.

The news comes less than two months after the Canadian Grand Prix was dropped from the 2009 calendar after it was revealed that race organisers did not have the money to pay F1 commercial rights controller Bernie Ecclestone for the right to host the race.

The French Grand Prix will also be absent from next year's calendar after running into similar financial difficulties.

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