Motorsport

The collaborative business alliance of teams from the North American stock car racing series Nascar has doubled in size with the addition of a further nine members.

BayernLB has rejected a €25m ($33.5m) settlement offer from Bernie Ecclestone in relation to the Formula One chief executive’s involvement in the 2005 sale of the German bank’s stake in the series.

Formula One chief executive Bernie Ecclestone is set to remain the figurehead of the motor-racing series after a German court today (Tuesday) dropped a bribery case against him following the 83-year-old agreeing a $100m (€73.5m) payment to end the trial.

The Victorian Coalition Government has secured a five-year extension to its Formula One race deal to ensure that Melbourne will remain the venue for the motor racing series’ season-opener through to 2020.

Rob Ridley speaks to Gérard Neveu, head of motor racing’s WEC (World Endurance Championship), about growth for the series after it was sanctioned for another three years in June.

Formula One chief executive Bernie Ecclestone has offered to pay €25m ($34m) for the ongoing criminal case against him to be dropped, according to reports.

NASCAR CEO Brian France opens up about heading the family-run motor series, and outlines the challenges and opportunities the billion-dollar business faces in the near future.

Elisha Chauhan asks Monza how it plans to reinvigorate the venue’s magic following Bernie Ecclestone’s threat to drop the historic track.

The World Rallycross Championship has announced the addition of Barcelona to its 2015 calendar, with an initial one-year deal struck with a view towards a long-term partnership.

Azerbaijan’s government has completed a deal to host a new Formula One race in Baku from 2016, with the agreement set to address concerns over the expansion of the motor-racing series’ calendar following this week’s confirmation of a return to Mexico next year.

German touring car motor racing series the DTM has selected Dutch circuit Zandvoort as the replacement host for the ninth round of its 2014 season.

South Africa’s Kyalami race track is set to remain a motorsport venue after German automotive giant Porsche agreed to acquire the circuit for a reported R205m (€14.1m/$19.1m).

Mexican live events company CIE and the federal government have agreed terms with the Formula One group on a five-year deal for Mexico City to stage a round of the motor-racing championship, with the contract worth about $72m (€52.9m) per year.

Mexico is set to return to the Formula One calendar for the first time in 23 years after it was announced that a five-year deal has been agreed for a round of the motor-racing series to be staged in Mexico City from 2015.

Formula One chief executive Bernie Ecclestone has denied recent reports that he is planning a takeover of the motor-racing series’ parent company Delta Topco, while organisers of the sport’s inaugural Russian Grand Prix have maintained this year’s race in Sochi remains on course despite the escalation in tension in eastern Ukraine.

Shareholders in Formula One are set to share a dividend of $1bn (€733.8bn) thanks to a refinancing of the motor racing business, according to the Reuters news agency.