Highlights

French Grand Prix in doubt for next year

(Reuters)
Updated: 2007-03-30 09:44

The French Grand Prix could be absent from the Formula One calendar next year for the first time since 1955, the French motor sport federation said on Thursday.

"The Executive Committee has decided to suspend the inscription of the French grand prix on the 2008 calendar as the conditions of a successful event are not guaranteed," the FFSA said in a statement.

It left the door open for a possible reprieve later in the year, however, by adding: "The Executive Committee will re-examine the situation during its next session in July 2007."

Should the race not take place in 2008, organisers hope it would return to the calendar the following year, although not necessarily at the Magny-Cours circuit.

Poor access to the circuit, located near Nevers in the heart of rural France, weak attendances and insufficient accomodation were among the reasons for the move.

Magny-Cours has hosted the French Grand Prix since 1991, when it took over from the southern Le Castellet circuit, but the venue has been financially troubled for some years.

Lacking glamour and unpopular with teams and sponsors, the Magny-Cours round was nearly scrapped in 2004 -- securing its place only after a late scramble for funding -- and appeared on the initial 2005 calendar with an asterisk due to the lack of a contract.

FIRST RACE

France, the birthplace of motor racing with the first recognised grand prix held near Le Mans in 1906, ranks with Italy, Britain, Belgium and Monaco as one of the sport's traditional venues.

Only Britain and Italy have been on the calendar in every year since the championship started in 1950. There was no French race in 1955 because of a tragedy at that year's Le Mans 24 Hours race that killed at least 80 spectators.

With only 17 grands prix in this year's championship, the decision, if confirmed, would leave space for new races next year as well as the likelihood of the French race moving closer to Paris.

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone is keen on bringing the sport closer to major urban centres with far greater potential crowds.

"For me a Paris GP has been a dream dating back several years," he recently told France's Auto-Hebdo magazine.

Some media reports have talked about the possibility of the race moving to a circuit at Disneyland Paris or another location to be developed near Charles de Gaulle airport to the north of the capital.

Ecclestone suggested last year that Britain and France alternate their races. The FFSA agreed with the suggestion but it was rejected by Silverstone's owners, the British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC).

Silverstone's future beyond 2009 remains uncertain with the central English circuit needing considerable investment to bring the ageing facilities up to the standards of more modern venues elsewhere.

Ecclestone has confirmed an Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for 2009, with South Korea coming in 2010. He is also in talks with Singapore for a night race on a street circuit, possibly as early as next year.

The Spanish city of Valencia is also hoping to host a street race while Suzuka, dropped from this year's calendar in favour of Fuji, hopes to return as a second Japanese round.