Home to many a ‘Ring time, as well as one 24-hour FIA GT3 throwdown with as many competitors and fans as it can fit, the Nurburgring has found a new owner in Russian billionaire Viktor Kharitonin.
Autoblog reports Kharitonin — founder of Russia’s largest pharmaceutical company, Pharmstandard — took over from previous owner Capricon, who paid €77 million ($96 million USD) for the track in a bankruptcy sale. Capricon couldn’t keep up with the monthly €5 million ($6.2 million) payments, however, which was when Kharitonin rode in to save the day.
Since then, the 1,342nd richest individual in the world has set up a holding company named NR Holding AG to oversee operations, as well as paid the next installment for December well in advance of the due date. Kharitonin’s company holds two-thirds of the Nurburgring, with German motorsports company GetSpeed maintaining the remaining third.
Welcome, Mr. Caring Toner, to the Nurbergerkingring! We test all our Cadillacs here to make them extra uncomfortable.
What are the 5mill Euro / month payments for? Man, that’s high! No wonder noone wants to operate a clone over here, where on top of that, you have to pay the obligatory rent payments to leechocratic lawyers.
We have reason to believe the ‘Ring to be in good hands, Viktor’s other exploits include a rainbow of Dartz Prombrons and a tiny giraffe.