Title of the Nurburgring race

[kevin ritson]

I note it's being referred to as the European Grand Prix. This may have been mentioned before on here but I appear to have missed it: is the race title part of the contract with the circuit and therefore next year's race at Hockenheim will be billed as the German Grand Prix?

[Racefan_uk]

This has been the case for years, the German Grand Prix has been at Hockenheim for ages, but one country can't have more than one GP, so the 'european' tag is given to it.

Brands Hatch had one when there was a round at Silverstone and Donington had that tag in '93.

I'm fairly sure the Nurburgring race has always been classified as the "European GP" for a number of years now, as Hockenheim had the German contract for quite some time.

Edited by Racefan_uk on Tuesday 10th July 14:07

[kevin ritson]

Appreciate the reasons when there is more than one round in a given country, just seems odd when the two German circuits are hosting on alternating years. Guess that's commercial realities for you...

[belleair302]

It will be the same next year for the Spanish GP in Valencia and the Barcelona GP (Catalonia). A few years ago the Nurburgring GP was called the Luxembourg GP to keep the Germans happy. Being only an hour or so from Spa it would make sense to have the two races back to back too.

[kevin ritson]

But next year there are two GPs in Spain. Remember that Hockenheim isn't hosting a race this year.

[williamp]

..and for some time there have been 2 races in Italy: Monza and Imola. And France- magby Cours and Monaco (yes I know its a principality, but so is Wales).

And, to really annoy lots of people, the Yanks have two GP races as well: Indinapolis and Canada...

[flemke]

The 'ring is operated under the umbrella of one motoring organisation (I think ADAC), and Hockenheim has operated under their rival's aegis (AvD?) The two don't get along, and this goes back to at least the '70s when the German GP was moved to Hockenheim for safety reasons.
When the new GP circuit at the 'ring was up and running, naturally they wanted the German GP returned to them, and naturally the boys down in Hockenheim disagreed.

The German GP stayed at Hock., whilst the 'ring got a couple of "European" GPs, which race was Bernie's joker, taking place other years at Donington (Senna '93) and Jerez (Mikey takes out his championship rival, volume II '97).
The European GP settled at the 'ring in '99 and has been held there annually since.
Now that there will be only one GP in Germany, it would seem natural that it always be called the "German GP", but the two rival organisers cannot agree terms, so it'll still be the European at the 'ring in odd years and the German at Hockenheim in even ones.