MX23RW : Tuesday, November 26 17:28:43| >> :600:270899848:270899848:

Russian billionaire completes Nurburgring purchase

A Russian billionaire is now the full owner of the Nurburgring circuit.

A Russian billionaire is now the full owner of the Nurburgring circuit.

In late 2014, Viktor Kharitonin, who co-founded the pharmaceutical company Pharmstandard, bought into the embattled German Grand Prix venue.

Forbes Russia now reports that Kharitonin, 43, has upped his stake from 80 to 99%.

"Today we have closed the deal," he is quoted as saying, with Forbes claiming that the value of the new transaction is some €38m (£29.5m).

It is believed that Kharitonin has paid €77m (£59.7m) in total for the circuit, with the minority shareholder GetSpeed keeping a symbolic 1%.

Amid the Nurburgring's well-documented financial and ownership troubles, Germany fell off the Formula 1 calendar last year and is once again back in doubt for 2017.

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone said that he came close to buying the Nurburgring, but the then owners opted for another offer "for the sake of one or two million".

"I think we can say for sure that there will not be a race [in 2017]", he told motorsport-magazin.com late last year.

Explaining the 2015 absence now, Kharitonin said: "We ourselves refused because they did not agree with the organisers on financial matters."

Kharitonin, however, claims that talks with Ecclestone will resume.

ID:271411: cacheID:271411:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2112:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Valtteri Bottas of Williams during previews ahead of the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix at Bahrain International Circuit on March 31, 2016
Read Next:
Bottas admits to eyeing Mercedes seat
>
rhs 2.0


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!