French GP to be held at...Euro Disney?

The prospect of 20 Formula 1 cars racing within the grounds of Disneyland Paris and close to the capital of India is becoming ever-more likely, it would seem.

Magny-Cours is to be axed from the calendar following next month's event - the 18th French Grand Prix to be held at the Circuit de Nevers since 1991 - and there could be no race in the country at all next year should Paris not step into the fray. The sport's supremo Bernie Ecclestone has made no secret of his desire to see F1 compete in the French capital - and the only stumbling block now, it appears, is generating sufficient funding to host an event there.

French Prime Minister Fran?ois Fillon has promised Ecclestone that he will look into the possibility of holding the grand prix in Paris, but according to daily newspaper Le Figaro, investment has not been particularly forthcoming so far, with around $31m still needing to be found.

It is believed that if the project does go ahead, the race will take place in the grounds of Disneyland Resort Paris - about half an hour's drive from the capital - but the park's owner Euro Disney is reportedly insisting the French Government should stump up the necessary money.

The possibility of India joining the F1 grid in 2010, meanwhile, looks to be more on-track than ever, according to Force India chairman and managing director Dr Vijay Mallya. Though little has been said of the proposed event near to the capital of Delhi since Ecclestone revealed that he intended taking the sport to the world's second-most populated country, Mallya - also head of the Indian national motorsport federation - is adamant the race will take place.

"The people who have acquired the rights have the necessary land," the billionaire businessman told German news agency SID. "They obviously have the necessary fees to pay Bernie Ecclestone, and they have the authority.

"Now they will build the track, together with Hermann Tilke. We are all looking forward to 2010."