’Au Revoir’ to Magny Cours

UPDATE This rumor is upgraded to 'fact' today. Today's French grand prix was definitely the last to be held in Magny Cours, Bernie Ecclestone confirmed on Sunday.

Organizers, the French Federation of Motor Sport, had already announced that the race would probably drop off the calendar for 2008, but said the situation would be "re-examined" at an upcoming meeting in July.

But F1's chief executive Ecclestone categorically told the French newspaper Nice-Matin: "There is no future for Magny Cours. 2007 will be the last race at this circuit."

Alternatives in and around Paris are possible for the future, while 76-year-old Ecclestone owns the Paul Ricard circuit located near Marseille but it is not equipped for spectators.

Top figures for grand prix teams at Magny Cours this weekend said they would not miss this circuit but insisted that France is an important market for F1.

"It is one of the leading countries in the European environment and it is important to have a grand prix in France," Ferrari team principal Jean Todt said.

Renault's Flavio Briatore agreed: "I hope we hold a grand prix in France (in the future) and maybe in a better location."

07/01/07 (GMM) Ralf Schumacher thinks it is a shame that formula one will probably never return to Magny Cours after Sunday's grand prix.

"This is really no place for our sport," F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone is quoted as saying by Sport Bild.

He refers to the common complaint that the current French GP venue is 'in the middle of nowhere' and, after the hustle and bustle of visits to places like Montreal and Monaco, only able to offer scenery such as a few cows.

But Schumacher, who turned 32 on Saturday, is not one of F1's renowned party-goers and commented: "I like it here — it is nice and calm.

"I think it is nice that you can come here and it is more relaxing than some other places we go. It's a shame that we might not come back."

Also drawing the ire of F1's traveling circus, though, are the lacking facilities at Magny Cours, not to mention the long distances to below-par hotel accommodation and airports, and its promoters' struggles to match Ecclestone's ever-increasing annual fees.

But another issue is the lack of an alternative venue, given the importance to sponsors and carmakers of the French market. Love or hate the region, meanwhile, most of the drivers enjoy the high-speed chicanes.

Paris has been touted as one possibility, while Nick Heidfeld admitted this weekend: "If we have to go to Paul Ricard (in the future), I would rather stay here."

The first F1 race at Magny Cours took place in 1991.