• Circuit news

Hopes of French Grand Prix revival dealt critical blow

Plans to build the Flins-Les-Mureaux circuit have been axed © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News:
• Ecclestone would welcome French GP return
  
• News:
• Proposed French circuit lost €8 million
  
• News:
• Todt aims to reinstate French GP
  

• Circuits:
• Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours

Plans to build a circuit for the 2011 French Grand Prix north-west of Paris have been dealt a critical blow after the local council refused the planning permission.

In 2009 the calendar did not feature a French Grand Prix for the first time since 1955. The team behind the Flins-Les-Mureaux circuit was hoping it would become the new home of the race after attempts to reinstate the event at both Magny Cours and a new track at Disneyland Paris failed. The new circuit was planned as part of a new industrial complex designed to attract investors to the Yvelines region. However, while the rest of the construction at the new site has been completed, the Formula One venue had to be shelved.

"Having consulted all the stakeholders, I have decided, in agreement with the council, to abandon construction of a Formula One circuit," said Alain Schmitz, president of the general council of Yvelines. "I really feel that we were not as supported as I had hoped."

Recently elected FIA President Jean Todt who is French outlined the priorities for his presidency just days after being elected, one of which was to back the re-instatement of his national race. He said he was planning talks with government officials, but there has been no further news about his personal involvement.

Magny Cours has once again been linked to the event as has the Paul Ricard circuit and a project called Le Pole Val de France, in the Sarcelles region. However, as the calendar for 2010 is soon to be confirmed by the FIA the earliest the race could now return is 2011.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.