Nurburgring SOLD

[CarreraG50]

The venerable Nürburgring racetrack had become the subject of much ridicule. On top of the legendary Nordschleife, the grand prix circuit, and various testing facilities, the politicians of Rhineland-Palatinate had decided that it needed nothing more than an amusement park. The project failed spectacularly, and in July 2012, the ’Ring was forced to declare bankruptcy. The search for an investor began, and is now over.

The Düsseldorf-based supplier Capricorn, which is rooted in racing technology and maintains extensive testing facilities at the ’Ring, received the final nod in a bidding war that pitted it against the Miami-based investor HIG Capital. The exact details are unknown, but the “transaction volume” is communicated to be around €100 million (roughly $140 million at today’s exchange rates), of which €25 million ($35 million) will be set aside for improvements. As of last week, it was thought that HIG Capital’s bid would be enough to secure the circuit, but it seems Capricorn came in with a winning offer at the 11th hour.

 

 

These improvements include a 180-degree strategic shift from the low-brow amusement circus initiated by Rhineland-Palatinate’s former government. Besides keeping the various automotive races, Capricorn’s co-owner Robertino Wild wants to develop the ’Ring into an “automotive technology cluster”—an environment used for research, development, and testing. Many of the goofy structures and buildings associated with the theme-park development will be taken down to make room for appropriate ones. And we will be able to celebrate the ’Ring again in its full glory.

[Russ]

Capricorn makes some pretty cool stuff and Porsche related too! (below 904 engine for $157,000USD)

 

http://www.capricorngroup.net/no_cache/en/automotive/news/news-single/article/legendaerer-carrera-motor-ab-sofort-wieder-erhaeltlich.html?tx_ttnews[backPid]=13

 

and their 'successes page' is pretty cool too - http://www.capricorngroup.net/en/successes.html

[FlatSix]

Great news, keeps my dreams of driving it one day alive.

[nine93]

+1

 

Nice to hear

[Harvs11]

Capricorn looks like the "right" choice, not just the most cash.

The ring lives a bit longer.

[KBGr4]

Somehow.... sanity seems to have prevailed and that must mean that several people with names like Jurgen ,Walter and Sabine will all be smiling, as should any of us with a dream of visiting the ring some day. Congratulations capricorn.de I hope it all goes well.