APRIL 28, 2005

A change at Magny-Cours

The company which runs the Magny-Cours racing circuit in France is to sell shares to private investors - if anyone is interested. The SAEMSCMC (Societe Anonyme d'Economie Mixte Sportive du Circuit de Magny-Cours) is owned by the local county council (the Conseil General of the Nievre), the town of Nevers and by the state-owned regional bank of Burgundy. The company was the organiser of the French GP until 2003 when losses meant that the authorities were no longer willing to continue in the role of promoter and this was taken over by the Federation Francaise du Sport Automobile (FFSA). The partners in the business will retain control by means of a casting vote. It remains to be seen whether any of this will help the event as it seeks to build up the crowd numbers and change the image of Magny-Cours.