Taskforce set up to revive French GP http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/92501 French prime minister Francois Fillon has created a taskforce charged with resurrecting the French Grand Prix. The group includes Paul Ricard circuit director Gerard Neveu, which suggests that the track that hosted the race 14 times between 1971 and 1990 is the most likely venue. As an active circuit, it could allow the French Grand Prix to return to the calendar as early as 2013 if a promoter were to be able to strike a deal for a world championship race. Any such plan would be dependent on raising the required funding, which has been the stumbling block for many of the stillborn projects to revive the event over the past three years. "It is true that I have put in place a team," Fillon is quoted as saying by French regional daily newspaper Var-Matin, adding that it has been created to "attempt to create a proposition that will allow the organisation of a new grand prix in France". Fillon, who was born in Le Mans and who has participated in the circuit's classic race, confirmed that the taskforce included ex-cabinet minister Gilles Dufeigneaux, Renault team principal Eric Boullier and Neveu. Magny-Cours dropped off the Formula 1 calendar after the 2008 race amid financial problems and has not been held since. The Federation Francaise du Sport Automobile (FFSA) had run the event from 2004 following the loss of its previous promoter, but seven-figure losses made it impossible to continue into 2009. Numerous plans to bring back the race have been discussed since then involving a number of new venues, including a possible Disneyland-run race at the mooted Paris val d'Europe track as well as a potential return to Magny-Cours. Following the struggles to bring back the race, Fillon confirmed that a scheme allowing the French GP to share a slot on the calendar with the Belgian GP is a possibility. This could solve the problem of France struggling to gain a position in a crowded F1 calendar, as well as helping to safeguard's Spa's F1 future.
Paul Ricard has some fond memories..... And the climate is pretty good too.... IIRC, it was one of the first built to "Bernie specs" (?) Long before HT..... Unfortunately, it didn't stay with the times. Cheers, Ian
Magny-Cours, despite being the absolute middle of no where was probably the best track for racing. It would be a great idea to do away with Silverstone and start racing at Magny-Cours once again.
Bernie Ecclestone was owner or part owner of that track in the past, and it's at that time that Paul Ricard received tarmaced run-off areas painted blue, doing away with the usual kitty-litter run-offs. Bernie said it would be safer, and allowed cars that came off to resume the race instead of being eliminated. Modern racers would love that ... Anyway, Paul Ricard had lost the GP by then and was used as a test track for several years before racing returned with the BTR GT championship in the early 90s. The track is now open to different racing, mostly national French GT, F3, etc... I have never returned to the circuit where I raced in the 70s, but I can see on the TV that several grandstands have dissappeared. The track seems to have been emasculated somehow, in my opinion. I am not sure it would make a good circuit for F1 now.
Bernie never liked Magny Cours because it's situated in a rural area with no hotel facilities nearby. I suppose it's the same for Silverstone.
I remember Schumi winning with a four stopper strategy back in '04. Magny Cours is a wonderful and exciting place to have a grand prix race. It is a spectator friendly venue. I'm all for it.
The issue is money. Bernie has made GPs money-losing propositions, requiring government funding. So we have Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, China, Turkey (for now), Singapore, et al. Austin is a bust without government money. Hurrah for Bernie, he made F1 what it is, and he is milking the cow to death. All the television money and all the trackside advertising money are not enough for him. Leaving only the gate for circuits he takes all that and more. Hundreds of dollars for a ticket? Thanks, Bernie, for making F1 accessible to the average fan.
It cant change because CVC wants a return on investment. I think it would be awsome to have the GP the week after the 24 hours at Le Mans. the full 8 mile track. and or do a back half return at the first chicane...At least you could maximize the tickets & cost of set up of the track.... Bernard will never ever go for that.... but i think it would be cool!
Since that's the case, I am rather pessimistic about a GP return in France. State help is definitely out of the question, in spite of the Prime Minister's interest, and I cannot see a promoter paying what Bernie wants. France doesn't have a lavish and well-heeled club like the British Racing Drivers Club at Silverstone to back up an event. It really looks like a non-starter to me; the calendar is already full. Also, I haven't hear thast France was terribly missing F1. They have their own motorsport interests anyway like Andros Trophy, Paris-Dakar, WRC or Le Mans that seem to captivate more than GP and generate a lot of interest among fans.
+1. Mindless rambling; might just put him on ignore but then I wouldn't get the pleasure of reading his classic ****. I would love a French GP to return. With the Pirelli's Magny cours could well be exciting again. From a spectators point of few its awesome, at one point at the track you can view 3 different parts of the track!
+1. I attended the final one. Great area and event. I could care less how far it is from anything. Its worth the effort.
The venue might be spectator friendly, but those same spectators have no place to stay. Le Castellet would be awesome given its location in Southern France. At any rate, I'm glad to hear there is talk again about a French Grand Prix. There has to be one in the calendar, after all France is the birth place of Grand Prix racing.
The only thing that may be more absurd than the US not having a GP is the fact that France does not have one, IMO.
