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Paul Ricard Circuit in Provence could be hosting the French Grand Prix in 2013

French Formula 1 fans have high hopes that France will once again feature in the Formula 1 calendar. Towards the end of January, French Prime Minister, François Fillon, gave the go-ahead for the Paul Ricard Circuit at Le Castellet in the Var department in Provence to be considered as a candidate to host the Grand Prix de France from 2013 season. If France were to make a return to the Formula 1 calendar, the indications are that it would alternate with the Belgian Grand Prix.  France last hosted an F1 Grand Prix in 2008 when the race took place at Magny-Cours Circuit near Nevers, the winner being Felipe Massa in a Ferrari. The last Frenchman to win a French Grand Prix was Alain Prost driving a Williams-Renault in 1993.

At an inter-ministerial meeting attended by French Premier Fillon, it was agreed that a Public Interest Group (GIP) would be established for the purposes of fixing a budget and to provide a legal status for the race organisers, two pre-requisites before starting negotiations with Bernie Ecclestone, the commercial rights holder of Formula 1.  It is hoped that a preliminary agreement can be reached over the next few weeks although some loose ends and the upcoming French presidential elections will make for a tight schedule.

Collaborating in the mission to bring the F1 Grand Prix back to the circuit is the minister for major sporting events, Gilles Dufeigneux whose dream is for there to be a French driver, a French Grand Prix and a French F1 team. He is assisted by Éric Boullier – head of the Lotus Renault Grand Prix team; Gérard Neveu, the director of the Circuit Paul Ricard and Stéphane Clair – one of the directors of Marseille Provence airport.

As matters have turned out, Renault would not, in fact, be present as a constructor in the pits. The French team sold 75% of its stake in the Renault F1 Team in 2009 and the remaining 25% at the end of 2010 to Genii Capital investment company.  In the 2011 Formula One season the team competed under the name Lotus Renault GP but this year the Renault name has been dropped and the team are competing simply as Lotus F1 Team.  Renault continues to supply engines to this and other teams from its Renault Sport F1 enterprise in Viry Châtillon near Paris.

The Paul Ricard circuit hosted the Formula 1 French Grand Prix from 1971 until 1990, when the then French President François Mitterand instigated the move to what was then the newly built Nevers Magny-Cours circuit, very close to the geographical centre of France. Whilst Magny-Cours circuit was undoubtedly centrally situated, one of the problems for race-goers was that it was also ‘in the middle of nowhere’, a problem not shared with the Paul Ricard Circuit which benefits from frequent air and train services to Marseille, whilst Nice airport is also not that far away.

Since 1990, the Paul Ricard Circuit has hosted a variety of events, including motorbike racing, truck racing and open air concerts.  Following extensive refurbishments it became a high tech test track for private Formula 1 trials and hosts a Le Mans Series endurance race (6 hours of le Castellet), Formula 3 Euro Series, as well as racing with a newly formed bike club – Motoclub du Circuit Paul Ricard.

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