Mar.3 (GMM) Bosses of Germany's two formula one hosts have played down speculation that a city street race in Berlin or Hamburg could ultimately replace Hockenheim and the Nurburgring on the grand prix calendar of the future.

With the advent of events on the normal roads of Singapore and Valencia, and amid Bernie Ecclestone's desire to relocate the French grand prix to central Paris, it was suggested that the future of grand prix racing in Germany might also be away from the usual permanent circuits.

But when asked about the prospect of relocating the German grand prix to a street track, Hartmut Tesseraux, spokesman for the Hockenheim circuit, told the German news agency SID: "The cost would be enormous, and as a result the ticket prices would certainly also be very high."

Hockenheim currently alternates the German grand prix every season with the Nurburgring.

Nurburgring boss Walter Kafitz also played down the rumours about a street race in Germany.

"Formula one races in cities are more expensive than at race tracks, and formula one is already expensive enough," he said.

And "quite apart from the cost, it would be almost impossible to obtain the necessary approvals," he added.