Hockenheim Confident of Retaining German GP

Hockenheim should remain the venue of the German Grand Prix providing it undergoes a major facelift, Baden-Wuerttemberg State Premier Erwin Teufel said on Sunday.

Teufel was in confident mood after a meeting Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone to discuss the future of the ageing track, contracted to hold the race until 2001.

"He (Ecclestone) said from the beginning of our conversation that he wanted the race to stay at Hockenheim," Teufel told reporters.

"He said it could do for another 10 years if we implement a proposed project to renovate the track, which we have committed ourselves to do," he added.

Ecclestone, Teufel added, gave local officials until the end of August to offer him guarantees that the works will be conducted. A new 10-year contract could then be signed.

The southwestern circuit has hardly changed since it first staged the German Grand Prix 30 years ago and is under threat to lose the race to a brand new track some 130 kms south of Berlin due to be inaugurated next month, the Lausitzring.

Ecclestone had said that Hockenheim could not keep the event after 2001 unless it increased its capacity and improved its VIP and media facilities.

"We have proposed shortening the track in order to set up two more tribunes and also to improve the car park situation," Teufel said.

Under the plan the circuit will be shortened from 6.8 to some four kilometres and its entire infrastructure will be refurbished for an estimated cost of 95 million marks ($45 million).