While, the Fall of Constantinople took place back in May 29th 1453 by the Ottomans, the Istanbul Park is under severe threat of termination by Bernie Ecclestone "event fee" assaults. Rumours among the paddock circulate that the 2010 Turkish Grand Prix might be the last one as the venue was never considered popular by either teams, drivers (apart from Massa who has been a multiple winner in the circuit) or more importantly by the spectators.Since the Istanbul Park venue hosted its first race in 2005, the layout - featuring the demanding Turn 8 - has received widespread praise. But spectator numbers have been conspicuously low. "It's an enormous market in Turkey. Eventually they will get themselves sorted out," F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone said earlier this year.
A report in The Hurriyet Daily News said Ecclestone upped his asking price from $13.5 million to $26 million for the 2011 race. If so, the news adds to the organisers' woes as the circuit has struggled to attract spectators in the last two years, seeing its attendance drop from 200,000 at the inaugural event in 2005 to just 36,000 this year. The report said they have been given until the end of the year to make a decision.
In response to the new deal a Turkish official claimed the amount being asked was disproportionate. "In countries such as France and Germany, the Formula One CEO is requesting something between $1.5 million and $4 million."
But Die Welt reports that the track, managed by Ecclestone, is too far from the city and on the wrong side of the Bosphorus strait, causing long and frustrating rides from hotels through thick traffic. "The rumours are getting louder that the fastest circus in the world will no longer make the journey to Istanbul."
