Full Throttle

(Editor’s note: I take this report with a large grain of salt.

First is the “Bernie Factor” and his apparent drive to abandon all things European for all things Asian. And secondly, the French switched allegiances some sixty odd years ago, and we all know how well that worked out - ed)

French authorities on Thursday announced they had selected in principle which circuit would host future French Grands Prix, a year after Magny Cours was dropped from the race calendar.

Pierre Bedier, chairman of the departmental council of the Yvelines region west of Paris, unveiled the project of Parisian architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte, whose 4.5km-long, 95-hectare site at Flins-Les Mureaux some 40 km north west of the capital will have seating capacity for a 120,000 crowd.

An onsite conference centre for year-round use will also add to the attraction at the 112-million-euro (144-million-dollar) development.

The decision for the new venue will ultimately fall to Formula One organizer Bernie Ecclestone, who had in 2007 indicated that the sport would not return to Magny-Cours, an out of the way site in central France, while urging the creation of an alternative location.

The 2008 race did go ahead, won by Felipe Massa, but the old venue has dropped off this season’s calendar after the French Motorsports Federation (FFSA) withdrew financing given the current economic downturn.

There has been talk of using Disneyland Paris for a future race but Ecclestone has also intimated he would like a race in Paris itself.

Those behind the new circuit say it will be technically challenging and conceived as to allow easy overtaking.

Wilmotte has been hard at work on the concept in tandem with Clive Bowen of British circuit designer Apex.

“All of the 18 jury members voted for this project,” said Bedier.

“This dossier has the virtue of improving a site which is currently lying fallow and not being properly utilized.”

Bedier saluted what he termed “an idea which constitutes durable development”.