'Ring replaces Castrol Esses for 2002

The existing right-left section, which will be in use for this weekend's GP, funnels cars immediately after the start and has a reputation for causing opening lap carnage. Its replacement will be a section that doubles back on itself before rejoining the existing track after the Esses.

Track representatives say the new section, to be called the Mercedes Stadium, will include an extra 10,000 grandstand seats and provide an additional overtaking opportunity. It has been described as similar in concept to German GP circuit Hockenheim's stadium.

Work on the £4 million project will start at the end of the current season and be ready for next April. The Eifel venue also wants to install an extra 20,000 seats elsewhere on the circuit.

Although the Nurburgring has been touted as a possible casualty when Moscow's GP plans come to fruition, a circuit spokesman said the track's owners were confident that the modifications were part of a long-term future as a GP venue for the track.

"We're carrying on until our present contract expires at the end of 2004," he said. "We're not under time pressure to get a new contract just yet."

For the last two years, with the inclusion of a United States GP in the calendar, the 'Ring's F1 date has been moved from its September slot to its current June date - a situation the circuit says it can tolerate.

"We're happy with this date, although of course we would have preferred the end of September," said the spokesman. "You have to realise that Indianapolis must come near the end of the season, so this is the second choice for us, but as you can see from the current weather (sunny, with fine weather forecast for the weekend), it's still quite a good choice."