French GP axed from 2009 F1 calendar

The French Grand Prix, the world’s oldest surviving motor race, has been scrapped for 2009 as a result of mounting economic problems.

The FFSA, France’s motorsport governing body, took the decision to cancel next year’s race – which had been granted a provisional place on the Formula One calendar – in the wake of falling revenues and rising contractual costs. There are still hopes that a new venue and promoter can be found in time for 2010, with a number of projects, including Magny-Cours and a track close to Disneyland Europe, bidding for the rights to the event.

The French Grand Prix was first held in 1906, but its most recent home of Magny-Cours has never won the affection of either F1 teams or race fans. Team officials will hope that the French race’s absence from the calendar will allow a respite for Canada; its removal from the 2009 schedule left F1 with no race in the key North American market.

Source : Autocar UK

F1.com, the official site read,

French motorsport federation, the FFSA, has said there will be no French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours in 2009 while potential new venues are being considered for the future.

The FFSA said it has received six serious proposals for possible sites, among them three in the Paris region and a redevelopment of the existing Magny-Cours facility.

The FIA has yet to issue an official revision to the 2009 calendar in light of the FFSA's announcement. As a result, Canadian GP is expected to be brought back to revive the only race in the North American continent.

IAB