FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[scotty]

From autosport.com:

By Jonathan Noble Thursday, March 12th 2009, 13:59 GMT

The prospect of the French Grand Prix returning to the Formula 1 calendar moved a step closer on Thursday when plans for a new home for the event were unveiled.

Following months of discussions to try and find a suitable venue for the race, it was announced that a new track at Flins-Les Mureaux, north east of Paris, has been given the nod as French authorities' preferred option.

The track, which will be 4.5k m in length, beat off competition from four other venues that had made the final shortlist.

The track will feature a one-km long straight and, at a cost of 112 million Euros to construct, was the cheapest of the four possibilities being looked at.

French architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte will work with British construction experts Apex UK, who also helped build the Dubai Autodrome, to head up the project.

The track is expected to be ready in time for the 2011 season, although a final decision about the return of the French GP will be made by Bernie Ecclestone.

Hopefully this means we won't have the prospect of having to deal with any more boring races at Magny Cours!

[Gilles 27]

Hey, I like Magny Cours! When Tilke has finally designed every track on the calender, we'll hark back to the days where tracks like Magny Cours meant going off at least had some consequences rather than a trip round the asphalt runoff.
It's good to see the French GP project gain some momentum, for me not having a GP in France is about as ridiculous as it gets.

[McLaren Fan]

Hopefully there are no more problems and the track gets built. It's absurd that France does not have a Grand Prix.

[EwanM]

Why is it the French always rely on the British to help construct their large structural projects ?

[liquidmetal]

Hey, I like Magny Cours! When Tilke has finally designed every track on the calender, we'll hark back to the days where tracks like Magny Cours meant going off at least had some consequences rather than a trip round the asphalt runoff.
It's good to see the French GP project gain some momentum, for me not having a GP in France is about as ridiculous as it gets.

true ... so true ... at least this circuit is not being designed by Tilke

[7UpJordan]

At least Tilke isn't designing it, I hope to see a nice original track design.

About Magny Cours as somebody mentioned, whilst I don't like the track I do concede that one good thing is that it is not surrounded by huge wide run-off areas that act as "get out of jail cards".

On this new track though I would love to see patriotic French blue coloured gravel traps just like the classic 80's version of the Paul Ricard track.

[Gilles 27]

I always felt Magny Cours was a load of fun on GP4 too, seemed like a challenge for the drivers.

[Jensonb]

At least Tilke isn't designing it, I hope to see a nice original track design.

About Magny Cours as somebody mentioned, whilst I don't like the track I do concede that one good thing is that it is not surrounded by huge wide run-off areas that act as "get out of jail cards".

On this new track though I would love to see patriotic French blue coloured gravel traps just like the classic 80's version of the Paul Ricard track.

I know man, a new Non-Tilke would be a revelation.

[JackBauer]

Why not use Paul Ricard instead of building a completely new track?

[texasmr2]

Why not use Paul Ricard instead of building a completely new track?

[Jensonb]

Why not use Paul Ricard instead of building a completely new track?

Two words:

Bernie. Ecclestone.

If you wanted a few more words to go with those I recommend:

stubborn, humongous, a, clot and is.

[EwanM]

That's Bernard to you.

Paul Ricard lacks the grandstands, and infrastructure to hold and F1 race. It is still in a slightly better location than Magny Cours though.
I think the FFSA wanted close to Paris, and you can see the advantages of holding the race there.

[McLaren Fan]

Paul Ricard's layout is not bad, but I'd never have it on the calendar for as long as it has blue everywhere:

[darwin dali]

Why am I all of a sudden so sad?

[McLaren Fan]

I often have that effect on people.