Name row holds up German GP deal

Although the two circuits have provisionally agreed a deal that will see them alternate the German Grand Prix from next year, with Nurburgring hosting the race in 2007, there remains problems over the name of the event.

The AvD, which runs the Hockenheim race, owns the rights to the Grosser Preis von Deutschland name. Sources have revealed that it has yet to settle a financial agreement over the use of the name with the European GP organiser, the ADAC.

The debate could lead to the Nurburgring race not being able to carry the German GP title next year.

Despite those problems, Hockenheim organisers are hopeful of the situation being settled soon.

Circuit spokesman Hartmut Tesseraux told autosport.com: "It looks like there will be no Grand Prix here at Hockenheim and it will be at the Nurburgring.

"Then in 2008 F1 will again be a guest here at Hockenheim. But it is not official. We are having many meetings with Bernie Ecclestone. We hope that we can arrive at an agreement this weekend, but I'm not sure we will."

Tesseraux said that the decision to only hold a GP every other year is the perfect solution for Hockenheim. The move will not threaten its future as a race circuit.

"We are wonderfully profitable, but F1 is very expensive," he said. "If we have a race just on one year we can take a deep breath and swallow the cost.

"We have 330 days sold out here at Hockenheim and it is busy from 8am to 8pm. It is a wonderful venue. We have Robbie Williams playing a concert here next week, and expect a crowd of 180,000 people."

But Tesseraux admitted that there would be a substantial knock-on effect to local businesses around Hockenheim if there were no GP in 2007.

"The better place for the Grand Prix is Hockenheim," he said. "We have wonderful hotels and businesses in the area. But if we don't have a race in 2007 we will have to hold a lot of meetings with them."