Nürburgring Liquidator Will Begin Interviewing Buyers in April

The Nürburgring went bankrupt last year with roughly €500 million of debt and since then there are been an ongoing process where the track has been turned over to an independent liquidator that is responsible for finding a buyer for the track and its amenities. 

The liquidator has announced that it will begin interviewing buyers in April. However, the number of potential buyers has not yet been confirmed in separate reports on March 11 and March 18. The head bankruptcy lawyer, Jens Lieser, said that there are between five and ten interested buyers. According to him, there are no "oligarchs or sheiks that want to turn the track into their own private racetrack."

However, the press officer for the liquidator, Pietro Nuvoloni, said on March 18 that more than 30 interested parties had applied to bid on the track.

"If the sale is free of discrimination, transparent, Europe-wide, unconditional, buyers should have no worry about the track's debt being partially forgiven by the EU Commission.

The long-term life of the Nürburgring is certainly in question. The track will have a full calendar for this season including the Formula 1 race, Nürburgring 24 Hours and Rock am Ring concert. However, next season the track has a very uncertain future. It is possible that the new owner could close the Nordschleife to tourist drivers or cancel any of the other races.

One possible savior is that the state government of North Rhine-Westphalia, where the track is located, could pass a law forcing the new owner to keep the track open to the public, for development by the auto industry and for motorsport. 

Fans of the Nürburgring have not been taking its sales lying down. English-speaking fans have formed the organization Save the Nürburgring and German-speaking fans have Ja zum Nürburgring. Both organizations staged a protest in Mainz on March 19 with 300 cars of protestors driving from the Nürburgring to the city hall in Mainz. Protestors included not just casual fans of the track but also local business owners who cater to visitors to the track with hotels, restaurants and garages. 

Source: Rhein Zeitung (2), Der Westen