JUNE 26, 2008

French GP a success, FFSA goes ahead

The General Assembly of the Federation Francaise du Sport Automobile (FFSA), the national sporting authority in France, and the promoter of the French GP, met today and having reviewed the results of this year's race, agreed that they would continue to promote the race at Magny-Cours in 2009.

The General Assembly of the Federation Francaise du Sport Automobile (FFSA), the national sporting authority in France, and the promoter of the French GP, met today and having reviewed the results of this year's race, agreed that they would continue to promote the race at Magny-Cours in 2009.

The results showed that there 78,000 spectators on race day, compared to 72,000 in 2007, and with backing coming from the public authorities of the Nievre department and the Burgundy region, the French Grand Prix can still break even, despite the 10% increase in race fees being paid each year. The FFSA has asked that venues wishing to bid for the 2010 race should declare themselves at a meeting in October. The bidders will include Magny-Cours, which is due a major revamp.

Among the other potential bidders for the race are Rouen, which hosted five French Grands Prix between 1952 and 1968, which has declared an interest; another project at the old Villaroche airfield at Melun, 25 miles to the east of Paris in the Seine-et-Marne; and Disneyland, which remains another strong runner.