29/07/2011
NEWS STORY
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McLaren managing director Jonathan Neale has confirmed that Turkey has been dropped from the 2012 calendar.
As the sport reels following today's announcement about British TV coverage, Neale has confirmed reports that Turkey's round of the world championship next season has been cancelled.
Though it failed to get bums on seats, the Istanbul event usually provided one of the better races of the season the circuit widely regarded as one of Hermann Tilke's better efforts - not that this says a lot.
However, speaking today, Neale confirmed the event's fate. "I think it is always sad when you lose a grand prix from the calendar. We are sorry to see Turkey go," he said.
"The calendar already has 20 races, as a smaller team 21 is too many," added Virgin's Graeme Lowdon, referring to the 21-race calendar issued by the FIA early last month.
Meanwhile, it's understood that in an attempt to allow Bahrain time to resolve its 'problems' and welcome it back to the calendar, the 2012 event has been moved from its proposed March 11 date and moved so that can be back-to-back with Abu Dhabi.