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France looks set to finally make its return to the Formula One calendar in 2018 according to a number of French-language publications.
L'Equipe daily, RMC and Europe 1 radio, and the Auto Hebdo magazine report that Circuit Paul Ricard will host the event with an late August or early September date and a five-year contract on the cards
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Paul Ricard last hosted the French Grand Prix in 1985 but hosted testing as recently as earlier this year, while the French Grand Prix last occurred in 2008 at Magny Cours.
The news will reportedly be made official on Monday, through an announcement in Paris by the Automobile Club de France.
L'Equipe reported that French F1 legend and Renault ambassador Alain Prost and McLaren racing director Eric Boullier were involved with the negotiations, while Paul Ricard is owned by Bernie Ecclestone.
The news comes after another 'traditional' race, the German Grand Prix, was dropped from the calendar for the second time in three seasons.
"It's time for us to get better races rather than just the most money," Sauber team boss Monisha Kaltenborn told Deutschlandfunk radio.
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Replies (5)
Login to replycalle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Neat, I wonder which race it'll replace, I cant imagine we'd have a 22 race calendar.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Also, that irony in Kaltenborn's comment...
f1dave
Posts: 782
Replacing Germany.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Its 2018, and germany has contract for that date. Its 2017 they lack a contract for since Nürburg went broke.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Cont. and Hockenheim, as far as Im aware, still has contract for the even years, ie 2018 and so on.