Either the French Grand Prix is held in Paris or it will not be held at all – that is the warning from
Bernie Ecclestone, as he insisted
F1 would never return to Magny-Cours.
The Circuit de Nevers has hosted the French round of the
Formula 1 World Championship every year since 1991, but due to its remote location it has never proved a great hit with either participants or fans, and last March it was announced it was to be chopped from the calendar following the 2007 event over financial issues. Though it was subsequently given a reprieve by being re-instated for the 2008 and 2009 campaigns, Ecclestone is adamant that will be it.
“I hope we can put something together,” the sport's supremo told German news agency
SID. “We need a place for the French Grand Prix because we are not going back to Magny-Cours. The government understands this.”
The 77-year-old added that his aim was to arrange for a race to be held in Paris, with the Mayor of Versailles keenly lobbying for the event to move there [see separate story –
click here].
Ecclestone has similarly made no secret of his desire to see a race held around the streets of London in the not-too-distant future – even if he admitted such a dream was unlikely – and warned that he has no plans to relinquish his iron grip over F1 just yet, despite his advancing years.
“I would not do this job if I didn't enjoy it,” he reasoned. “I don't do it because I need to.
“I only plan for when it would be the time to stop…perhaps in 30 years or so.”
