François Ribeiro, Head of Eurosport Events and Promoter for the FIA World Touring Car Cup (WTCR) has discussed the possibility of Slovakia Ring returning to the calendar in 2019.
This weekends triple-header around the 3.6 mile circuit was arranged after the event scheduled at Termas de Rio Hondo in Argentina fell through on financial grounds.
However, provided the event runs smoothly, Ribeiro is open to the idea of making the circuit a planned fixture on the calendar for 2019.
“First, let’s make this weekend as good as possible and if it’s good…” commented Ribeiro.
“I said to Pavel [Culik, Slovakia Ring CEO] I was more planning for 2019 than 2018. But if the event this weekend is good and my hope is this weekend is probably the biggest motorsport weekend Slovakia Ring has ever organised with the combination of both.
“If it’s good it will be easier to find a solution for 2019.”
He also put on record his thanks to the circuit and the FIA European Truck Racing Championship for their help in finding a solution.
“I want to thank Slovakia Ring, ETRA, because it is true we have been in a difficult situation,” he said.
“I remember Pavel came to Hungaroring for WTCR at the end of April and asked me, give me a date for 2019 and we were starting discuss something for 2019.
“But three weeks after I had a phone call from the Argentinean government and they told me they are in a terrible financial situation and I had three days, no more, three days to find an alternative solution.
“I was in Zandvoort for WTCR and I said to Pavel if you want a date for WTCR you find me tomorrow morning in the paddock in Zandvoort. And they came and two weeks after everything was done.
“We met ETRA in Italy, Misano. Because we know each other and there is trust in our relationship everything was done pretty smoothly.”
The weekend gets underway with the opening free practice session at 11:40 BST.