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France Could Miss Out on the 2009 F1 Season

France is currently on the verge of losing its position inside the 2009 race calendar due to financial problems regarding the Magny Cours circuit. The Federation Francaise du Sport Automobile (FFSA) has officially announced yesterday that they are pulling their financial support on the French Grand Prix.

With F1 supreme Bernie Ecclestone wanting to axe Magny-Cours from the F1 map for quite some time now, France has one last shot to host an F1 Grand Prix in 2009. If the FFSA officials can find a potential organizer for the French event this week, there is a slight chance of Canada replacing the venue for the upcoming season.

“If a promoter is not identified to succeed FFSA, the French Grand Prix cannot figure in the FIA international calendar in 2009”, said FFSA president Nicolas Deschaux according to French newspaper L'Equipe. Even if a promoter is found in time, the Magny Cours circuit has no chance whatsoever to host a race in F1 due to increased track damage and the need for substantial renovation.

The news can only interest the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve officials who had to see their race cut out of the 2009 calendar without prior notice. Ecclestone later argued that the main reason why Formula 1 won't be going to North America for the upcoming season is because that both the Indianapolis Grand Prix and the Canadian race are developed by private promoters.

One can only assume that the F1 boss will have the same approach on the French Grand Prix also. Until then, the Englishman is likely to pursue his dream of staging an F1 event near Paris, possibly even a street circuit.

Currently, Disneyland seems to be in pole position for hosting the French GP in 2010, with five other locations taken under consideration by FIA. “The only plan that can be put in place in 2010 is the Paris Val d'Europe”, admitted Deschaux.
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