Meeting cancelled
July 6, 2009
The premier of the southwestern state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, Guenther Oettinger, was due to discuss future Formula One races at the financially troubled Hockenheimring with Ecclestone on Sunday during the next race at Nuerburgring.
The Hockenheimring is a race track located in Baden-Wuerttemberg and has long been home to the annual Formula One German Grand Prix.
A spokesman for the state government said that Oettinger had cancelled the meeting after learning on the weekend about remarks from Ecclestone praising Adolf Hitler for his ability "to get things done."
The statements, made in an interview published by London's The Times newspaper, have also led to a furore among Jewish groups. The World Jewish Congress called on Ecclestone to resign after the comments first appeared on Saturday.
In an interview published in Germany's Bild newspaper on Monday, the Formula One boss described reactions to his comment as a ''big misunderstanding.''
‘'I did not put Hitler forward as a positive example, but simply noted that before his appalling crimes, he acted successfully to combat unemployment and the economic crisis,'' Ecclestone was quoted as saying.
rb/dpa/AP
Editor: Chuck Penfold