Formula 1 News: Magny-Cours could host France GP revival (2nd Update)

One possibility to revive the French GP, is to alternate it with the second Italian GP race – known as the Emilia Romagna GP.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

With F1 trying to open up a slot in the crowded calendar for a race in Africa and possibly another in Asia, the only way for the French GP and the Emilia Romagna GP to fit is for them to agree to alternate years, thereby taking one race date instead of two.

Restoring the French Grand Prix to the Formula One calendar and bringing the World Rally Championship back to France are top priorities for the new president of French motorsport, Pierre Gosselin, said on Monday.

After being left off the calendar in 2023, the French Grand Prix remains in question, but Gosselin, who was elected to a four-year term on October 9, is optimistic about its return.

“We need to organize a Grand Prix in France, and it’s feasible,” Gosselin said in an interview with Le Figaro Sport.

The last French Grand Prix was held in 2022 at the Paul Ricard circuit. Before that, the race was at Magny-Cours. To bring the race back, Gosselin acknowledges that government backing is essential. “Without state financial guarantees, no project can succeed,” he said.

However, he added that at this point there is no commitment from the government.

The recent announcement that Renault will stop supplying engines for Alpine by the end of 2025 has also dealt a blow to French motorsport. “It’s a serious setback for us, but I understand the industrial logic behind the decision,” Gosselin said.

(GMM) Magny-Cours has emerged as a potential venue to host France’s return to the Formula 1 calendar.

Paul Ricard, also known as Le Castellet, dropped off the sport’s schedule after last season – but prior to that, the French GP was hosted until 2008 at Magny-Cours.

And with French president Emmanuel Macron empowering talks to take the country back onto the calendar, L’Equipe reports that Nevers mayor Denis Thuriot is set to meet with France’s sports minister at the end of August.

That is despite the fact that a new street track in Nice is also on the cards.

But mayor Thuriot, in charge of Nevers which is in the same Nievre department as Magny-Cours, says the rival bid will not hurt France’s overall push to return to F1.

“Not necessarily,” he said. “I spoke with Renaud Muselier who would agree to our two projects working alternately. That would limit the organization cost for each region.”