General French News | Formula One will return to France in 2013

Thursday, September, 1st by Paul Smithson

A French grand prix looks set to be reinstated on the Formula One calendar from 2013, with the Bernie Ecclestone-linked Paul Ricard course the most likely venue.

Made in Motorsport reported that the country will alternate a single annual date with Belgium, giving people the chance to attend a race during their French holidays once every two years.

Belgian grand prix organiser Etienne Davignon told French television channel TF1 that Ecclestone has agreed to the deal and the Formula One authorities are also fully aware of the arrangement.

Describing how the agreement was struck, he said: "We have a contract until 2013 and we feel there is a strong tendency at present for an alteration (in future) [sic]. So we went to see who might be interested and we found a public interest group."

According to the Connexion, Ecclestone's Excelis firm bought the Paul Ricard track in 1999 and has invested in rebuilding several parts of it.

It went on to note that the course at Le Castellet near Marseilles will be the preferred choice; staving off competition from the more traditionally popular locations such as Le Mans, Rouen, Clermont-Ferrand and Magny-Cours.

The Paul Ricard is due to host a variety of racing events in the coming months, including the World Series by Renault and the Dix Mille Tours.