Perhaps the most famous race track in the world, the Nürburgring, has a new owner. For some time now, the "Green Hell", as the approximately 22 km long natural race track is also known, has been deeply under water together with the new Grand Prix circuit and the adventure park built a few years ago, which never lived up to expectations.
Finally, a new buyer had to be found for the insolvent Nürburgring GmbH. The ADAC had been under discussion for a long time, most recently the US investor HIG Capital was mentioned as a potential new owner.
However, contracts have now been signed with automotive supplier Capricorn, a company with around 350 employees that manufactures engine parts, among other things, and already has a plant near the Nordschleife.
Motorsport will be at the heart of the new concept for the Nürburgring, according to the new owner, who is to pay 77 million euros for Nürburgring GmbH. A further 25 million euros are planned as investments in the new activities at the Ring, reported Ring administrator Jens Lieser.
However, the EU Commission still has to confirm the purchase in order to rule out illegal state aid. This decision is expected before the end of the year. In general, the Nürburgring case will lead to further legal proceedings and investigations, as too much money was lost in the over-optimistic plans.
Robertino Wild, the managing director of Capricorn, is likely to banish the adventure park from his new realm as far as possible; the Ringracer rollercoaster, for example, will be relocated in the country and a number of buildings will probably be demolished.
It is not yet possible to say whether the sale has paved the way for a happy future, but at least the signs are better. And for fans of the Nordschleife, the all-clear has been given - operations will largely continue as before.
