A Turkish businessman is seeking to secure a return to the F1 calendar for the Turkish Grand P🤡rix after purchasing the lease for the Istanbul Park circuit.

According to Autoweek, Vural Ak has secured an eleven-year lease on the circuit which hosted an F1 race from 2005 through to 2011🍰 when it was then dro♏pped from the calendar.

Ak, the c𝔍hairman of Turkey's largest car rental company, is reported to have agr♈eed a deal that will see him pay the circuit operator $9 million a year in rent and is eager to see the venue earn its place back on the F1 schedule.

"Mr Ecclestone is looking at a seven-year contract," Ak was quoted as telling the media on announcing the deal. "He told me he wanted $26 milli𒐪on to put on the race [in the first year], but said he was willing to make a little sacrifice from that figure. I will put in $5 million out of my own pocket - I am not thinking in terms of making a lot of money here. The government will contribute $13.5 million. Therefore we will be stuck somewhere in the middle.

"We are hoping to have a positive decision from Mr Ecclestone next week. I have guaranteed him a minimum 50,000 spectators on race day, buღt I expect about 80,000.

"As well as Formula 1, we will use the circuit for a round of the DTM series, as in the past, and we are planning many other events, including a new Turkish💃 series. We think motorsport events at Istanbul Park will bring tens of thousands of people."