The Paul Ricard circuit still in the running to host F1 in 2013

Recently, the FIA World Council blocked a date for an additional European Grand Prix in the 2013 Formula 1 season calendar. The date of July 21, 2013, would precisely meet the expectations of Stéphane Clair, director of the Paul Ricard circuit, who says he is ready to host the discipline as soon as next year. However, it is said that Austria, with the support of Red Bull, and Turkey are also in the running to seize this opportunity to make their return to the calendar.

Stéphane Clair therefore remains clear-headed and asserts that the French Grand Prix project is still alive, either for 2013 or, in the medium term, for 2014. He recently discussed this topic with the regional daily La Provence: « Negotiations with the FOM began in Abu Dhabi and continued notably in London. Alain Prost and Maître Arnaud Péricard, the lawyer for our public interest group, represent us in talks with Bernie Ecclestone and his majority partners, as he now holds only 15% of FOM shares. However, our negotiations have not yet concluded, as the terms we were offered do not exactly align with our budget projections. Discussions could thus last several more weeks because we want a good deal, which we will not seek to renegotiate like some in difficulty are still doing… At worst, we would prefer to miss 2013 and wait for 2014!

When asked whether the French Grand Prix could return to the world calendar every year, Stéphane Clair is very enthusiastic: « Absolutely, especially if we move beyond the petty quarrels, like the one we got dragged into with Magny-Cours. If our country is capable of making the French Grand Prix a national automobile celebration, we will succeed. If not, at least we will have tried! »