It is believed that the Turkish Grand Prix will soon be no more after F1 rights holder Bernie Ecclestone reportedly told organisers that the race promotion fee will be doubled for the 2011 race, from $13.5 million to $26 million per year.

An official of the Turkish Grand Prix believes it is unfair that they are having to pay so much for the Grand Prix as other circuits have to pay less, saying:

“In countries such as France and Germany, the Formula 1 CEO is requesting something between $1.5 million and $4 million.”

Last year, the number of viewers fell to just 40,000, while this year only 30,000 people turned up to watch the Turkish Grand Prix, despite the capacity of half-a-million people at the Istanbul Park circuit, prompting drivers like Mark Webber to say the circuit has ‘no atmosphere’, and Felipe Massa saying that there is not enough spectators at the circuit due to the expensive admission costs – caused by the price rises in the cost of holding the Grand Prix.

Turkey are to decide whether to hold the Grand Prix by the end of the month.