French Grand Prix: Douillet/Ecclestone Meeting
The French Grand Prix Formula 1 dossier is the hot topic at the start of this year. The French government has clearly stated its ambition to bring the discipline back to its territory by 2013. A meeting between the Sports Minister David Douillet and Bernie Ecclestone, the sport's promoter, took place earlier this week.
According to an article in the daily La Provence dated January 30, Sports Minister David Douillet made a round trip to London to meet Bernie Ecclestone and discuss the viability of the French Grand Prix project.
The minister was notably accompanied by Nicolas Deschaux, president of the FFSA (French Federation of Motor Sport).
At the end of this interview, Gérard Darmanin, the director of the minister’s office, was contacted by La Provence and stated: “The GIP (Public Interest Group) is being formed with local authorities and private entrepreneurs. The plan to alternate with the Belgian Grand Prix is part of the strategy for the proposal, even if the situation currently seems a bit complicated for our neighbors.”
Even if the government is motivated to host a Grand Prix in France again, it remains cautious: « We have the ambition to carry out a project whose business model will not be at a loss »
However, a date seems to be emerging for the project’s completion: « The F1 Grand Prix project is progressing, but the file is not yet definitively wrapped up. The final decision is not expected before the month of April. »
