The French Grand Prix in Paris in 2016?
The more ecological and environmentally friendly turn – sound-wise in particular – could result in good news for French Formula 1 fans: a race held in the streets of Paris, no more, no less.
CAUTION, APRIL FOOL’S DAY 2014
The information was announced in the mid-afternoon during a press conference by Nicolas Deschaux, president of the Fédération Française du Sport Automobile (FFSA). He notably stated that a significant step could be made in the coming weeks towards organizing a French Grand Prix that would take place in Paris.
The situation has changed in every way with motorsport. We can no longer speak of a sport far from environmental concerns and, paradoxically, what many regret, namely the quieter sound of engines [in F1], is clearly an advantage to make it more acceptable to elected officials, public authorities, and even locals, it is undeniable, he stated initially.
Quickly, the assembly of journalists present multiplied their questions and after trying to evade the subject, Nicolas Deschaux finally delivered the information that no one was expecting anymore: « Yes, today, there are negotiations for the French Grand Prix to be held in Paris starting in 2016. We are on a path paved by Formula E, and you know that the city is also potentially a candidate to host such an event. With Formula 1 aligning with modern automotive standards, the discussion naturally turned to it as well. »
He made it clear, however, that not everything was done even though the willingness of each party is indeed genuine: « Many elements need to be defined, but in the discussions held, it’s hard to do better. Bernie Ecclestone is very interested in this project, Paris being an incredible setting for an F1 race, and the new city council is aware of the green shift in the discipline. » Anne Hidalgo, the new mayor of Paris, has not publicly spoken about this project but several sources close to her office have indeed confirmed this interest, adding, as quoted by AFP, that « the bus lanes should meet current F1 standards in terms of track width ».
On Bernie Ecclestone’s side, the news seems relatively unsurprising, as he stated a few weeks ago that France could host a Grand Prix soon, mentioning the Magny-Cours circuit. « Imagine, all those people standing to applaud, at 900 euros per seat… Imagine the Eiffel Tower or even the Arc de Triomphe in the background at the start, at night… The Tour de France does it well, we should be able to do it, » the president of Formula One Management (FOM) reportedly said.
The president of the FFSA sought to temper enthusiasm but remains optimistic: « We must build this project, give it substance, and in this regard, financing remains the main concern. Paris has financial means, Paris can anticipate significant media and economic benefits, so this is a point that can progress quickly. Then, we must consider the circuit itself and, in this regard, the Formula E project could be interesting; we can imagine using the same track. Bernie Ecclestone mentioned the possibility of a night race, which he strongly supports. The road to this Grand Prix is straight, but the slope is steep. »
Upon the announcement of this news, a group of local Parisian residents—the association “Traffic Jams Yes, F1 No”—has already stated via a press release that it would challenge such a decision in administrative court if it were to be made by the City Council.
This article proposed by Motors Inside is obviously an April Fool’s joke for you, dear readers.
