French GP: Magny-Cours cautious candidate for 2015
Absent since 2008, the French Grand Prix of F1 could make its return as early as next season, as indicated by Serge Saulnier, the chairman of the management board of the Circuit de la Nièvre, who remains nonetheless cautious.
During an interview with Infosport+, Serge Saulnier, Chairman of the Board of the Circuit de Nevers-Magny-Cours, confirmed that the circuit in Nièvre is a candidate for a return to the Formula 1 calendar for the 2015 season, having last been part of it in 2008.
« We are still in negotiations with the FOM,” he indicated. « Indeed, we are candidates for a date in 2015, but nothing is signed at the moment. » As always with the French dossier, the financing issue is the last to be resolved, particularly in terms of guarantees: « There is a contract with a certain clearly indicated sum. For now, what we are missing before submitting our candidacy through the FFSA is to provide guarantees that allow us to commit to the amount of the fee proposed by Bernie Ecclestone. »
Necessary guarantees? As it was several weeks ago, but the context seems to be more favorable: « A round of discussions was conducted through a public interest group. All the local authorities have come together to finance part of this fee, as the rest would be covered by ticket sales. If the intention expressed currently by a number of stakeholders materializes in the coming weeks, we are very close. »
If the situation is good, the support of the competent authorities will still be needed: « All financial and contractual elements are in place. It just needs a signature and, for that, a minimum of willingness and political will is required. This is something that can be resolved in a few weeks. I am hopeful, it’s all a matter of timing and we have been working on it for over 3 years. I would like it to happen before the summer. »
Response in a few weeks…
