The 2011 French GP once again at a standstill

The French Grand Prix 2011 projects returned to a standstill last Wednesday after the Senate annulled the amendment facilitating the express construction of a circuit in the Paris region.

Since the removal of the 2009 French Grand Prix from the calendar, a first in fifty years since the creation of Formula 1, several projects are in the running to host the event again in 2011. Only one of them was capable of bringing F1 back to France as early as next year. This was Marne-la-Vallée with Disneyland Paris. The main promoter, Lagardère, having withdrawn, this project fell through. Today, only two projects remain in contention: Val-d’Oise and Yvelines.

These two candidates will receive no support from the French government, which, in its economic recovery policy, could have facilitated the advancement of projects by bypassing certain administrative procedures. At least, that is what Parliament decided last Wednesday with the support of socialist and green deputies and senators.

Reminder of the facts: Last Friday, the amendment aimed at promoting the ‘Yvelines, Vallée de l’automobile’ project was voted on by four senators from the UMP majority. This project was supported by Patrick Devedjian, the Minister of Recovery, and François Fillon, the Prime Minister. The project seemed to be underway but sparked anger among socialists and environmentalists. With a majority in Parliament, three days later during the final selection of projects to receive state aid, the F1 Grand Prix events were not chosen, just as the project to build the large stadium in Lyon was also not selected.

The Yvelines project is nevertheless the preferred choice of the authorities, so the case is slowing down, but it does not call into question the construction of the Flins-sur-Seine circuit: « The removal of this amendment does not call the project into question at all. It was simply a technical means to gain time in administrative and technical procedures, » comments a spokesperson for Pierre Bédier, UMP President of the departmental council of Yvelines. « But, even without this amendment, we will meet the deadlines. Everyone must act quickly and not go overboard. »

The misfortunes of some often make the happiness of others, and the neighboring communities where the circuit is to be located in Yvelines, near Flins-sur-Seine, are delighted: « For us, this is good news. It proves that a number of people and elected officials are becoming aware of the project’s anti-Grenelle environmental nature. But, caution: it’s not euphoria because there is currently a whole communication blitz by the general council about the Seine Valley. » States Jean Mallet, mayor of Mézy-sur-Seine.

Environmentalists are concerned about the location of the Flins circuit, situated on the largest aquifer in the Paris region, while socialists are outraged by the job cuts at Nevers-Magny-Cours following the relocation of the French GP to another town.

For more information, see: Le Sénat opte pour Flins sous fond de polémique or La manifestation anti F1 à Flins.