BRUSSELS, Sept 12 (Askume) – The European Commission said the EU competition watchdog will once again investigate the alleged involvement of German state aid in the sale of the Nurburgring track, after Europe’s top court in 2021 overturned a decision a decade ago to approve the German backing for the deal.
German authorities sold the track to Capricorn Nürburgring Besitzgesellschaft GmbH in 2014, which was later approved by EU regulators.
However, in its 2021 ruling, the Luxembourg-based court accused the European Commission of failing to launch a formal investigation to examine whether the sale tender was open, transparent and non-discriminatory.
European Union regulators launched an investigation on Thursday and said they would examine whether the German government was to blame for its decision to sell the Nurburgring racetrack complex amid bankruptcy proceedings.
The investigation will also look into allegations relating to aspects of the tender process and the possible provision of additional state aid to Makara following the tender.
The Nurburgring, about 120 kilometres northwest of Frankfurt, is where in 1976 Austrian reigning Formula One world champion Niki Lauda was involved in a serious crash that nearly killed him.
