Nurburgring Changes Boss after 15 Years

Germany's most important motor racing circuit, the Nurburgring, has announced some major management changes in recent days. According to the local media, Walter Kafitz is no longer owner of the Rhineland-Palatinate-based track. In addition, the “Nurburgring GmbH company will also no longer be involved in the daily operation of the circuit,” as confirmed by the same reports.

This means the state will seize to issue a direct control over the Nurburgring circuit, as the aforementioned company was controlled by the state (in a majority stake). Consequently, the management of the track will switch to private company Lindner Group, headed by Lorg Lindner.

The move was confirmed by the local authority earlier today. Although not many information about Lindner have surfaced in the media in recent days, we do know that the new manager of the Nurburgring already operates a hotel nearby.

Kafitz has been running the business at the Nurburgring for the past one and a half decade, ensuring the presence of the Formula One championship at the German circuit year in and year out. It was only a few years ago – in 2007, to be more precise – that the rising license fees imposed by Bernie Ecclestone made Kafitz agree to an alternate deal with the Hockenheim Ring for the hosting of the German Grand Prix.

The Nurburgring will return to F1 action in 2011, as it has hosted the German GP this year. It will also be the last race from the Nurburgring's current contract with Bernie Ecclestone, but it is expected that the F1 boss will try to find a way to keep the famous German circuit inside the Great Circle from 2012 onward (an potential alternate deal with Spa-Francorchamps has made the headlines lately).