Fillon: the French GP on an existing circuit

After weeks of vagueness, the head of the French government provided a clear answer to the questions of lovers of Formula 1. The recent declarations of Chantal Jouanno, Secretary of State for Ecology, and Jean-Louis Borloo, Minister of Sustainable Development and Ecology, had considerably slowed down the file for the construction of the Flins circuit, in Yvelines. However, François Fillon is optimistic. Campaigning for a Grand Prix on a new circuit, the Prime Minister admits that the reflection is being organized to know where the French Grand Prix will take place. “ We are currently looking at which circuit, whether a new one needs to be built, which is likely, confirmed the head of government on Europe 1. It will probably take a little time. If, in the meantime, the Grand Prix needs to take place on an existing circuit, we are looking into the matter. »

According to these declarations, and if the process continues as François Fillon imagines, we are heading towards the provisional establishment of a national GP on a circuit already present. “ It will be necessary because the time required to build a circuit is such that it will take us to 2012 and we cannot deprive ourselves of a French Grand Prix until 2012. » These words are therefore reassuring for French motorsport fans, who already regret the absence of a French meeting on the 2009 calendar. The Paul-Ricard circuit, which recently applied to organize one? such an event, can therefore see in these declarations an opportunity to put itself back in a good position in this matter.

Furthermore, François Fillon recalls that France is a country that needs such a test on its territory: “ I can't think of there not being a French Formula 1 Grand Prix. It was France that invented motor racing. The first Formula 1 Grand Prix took place in France. The government will do everything to ensure that there is a Grand Prix in France as quickly as possible, that is to say, in 2010 or 2011. »