’09 French GP cancelled

UPDATE Alain Prost hopes his country will do everything it can to keep the French Grand Prix on the calendar in the future for the sake of the automobile industry in France. "This is not just about saving our spot on the calendar but also about the entire automobile industry in France. It doesn't look good for the future and we should do something about it," Prost told L'Eqiupe.

10/15/08 France's motor racing federation has pulled its backing of the French grand prix.

The Federation Francaise du Sport Automobile (FFSA) announced in a statement that the race, scheduled for June next year at Magny Cours, has been cancelled "for reasons linked to the economic situation".

The FFSA met this week with potential organizers of an alternative venue to Magny Cours, with Bernie Ecclestone openly favoring an event near the capital Paris.

The F1 chief executive is no fan of the remote Magny Cours circuit, which earlier this year committed to a substantial renovation package.

But FFSA president Nicolas Deschaux explained that a reprieve on the 2009 calendar, to also not feature Canada in its final form, is unlikely.

"If a promoter is not identified to succeed the FFSA, the France GP cannot figure in the FIA international calendar in 2009," he is quoted as saying by L'Equipe.

[Editor's Note: With two less races (Canada and now France) on the schedule Bernie and his investors will take a financial hit. If more races cancel Bernie will begin to squirm, because if there is one thing Bernie does understand, it's money.]