Magny-Cours Over and Out

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This'll probably upset a few people, but despite it's come back this year the French circuit will not hold another F1 race according to Bernie.

Formula One president Bernie Ecclestone has announced that there will be no French GP in 2009 after making it clear that June's event will be Magny-Cours' last F1 race.

In May 2007 Ecclestone announced that F1 would be leaving Magny-Cours due to dwindling spectator numbers and poor facilities. "We should not have gone there in the first place," he said at the time.

However, a month later Ecclestone had a change of heart and stated that F1 would remain at the track for one last season with a June date set for the 2008 event.

After yet another re-think the F1 chief has now said that this year's race will definitely be Magny-Cours' last, which means France will not be hosting a round of the F1 Championship in 2009 - or until such a time as a new venue is decided on.

Paris plea

"We agreed that there would be a French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours in 2008 but not in 2009," the F1 boss told French daily L'Equipe.

"Prime Minister Francois Fillon told me we would then see if we could have a grand prix in Paris or just outside but that would not necessarily be for 2009, rather for 2010.

"In any case, 2008 will be the last time we continue like this."

He added: "I would really love a French Grand Prix in the streets of Paris."
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Source - SkySports. If there was already a Magny-Cours story posted then just disregard this.
 
It was never the most exciting of tracks, the quick left-rights were the best bit. I think we are going to get tired of endless street races, but on the other hand I prefer them to the circuits where the run-offs are eight thousand miles long and there is no danger.

Obviously we dont want to see drivers hurt but the danger is certainly a factor on a drivers mind for F1. Like Senna said about one of the more dangerous circuits:
"If you take away Eau Rouge, you take away the reason I do this"
 
I'm not really sad to see Magny-Cours go, it is quite a boring track. I'd love to see a race at Paul Ricard just for the psychedelic run-off areas, but if Bernie has his heart set on a Paris street race that's probably what we'll get.
 
<_Sky Sports_>
Formula One president Bernie Ecclestone has announced that there will be no French GP in 2009 after making it clear that June's event will be Magny-Cours' last F1 race.

In May 2007 Ecclestone announced that F1 would be leaving Magny-Cours due to dwindling spectator numbers and poor facilities. "We should not have gone there in the first place," he said at the time.

However, a month later Ecclestone had a change of heart and stated that F1 would remain at the track for one last season with a June date set for the 2008 event.

After yet another re-think the F1 chief has now said that this year's race will definitely be Magny-Cours' last, which means France will not be hosting a round of the F1 Championship in 2009 - or until such a time as a new venue is decided on.

Paris plea

"We agreed that there would be a French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours in 2008 but not in 2009," the F1 boss told French daily L'Equipe.

"Prime Minister Francois Fillon told me we would then see if we could have a grand prix in Paris or just outside but that would not necessarily be for 2009, rather for 2010.

"In any case, 2008 will be the last time we continue like this."

He added: "I would really love a French Grand Prix in the streets of Paris."
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Yeah right Mr. Ecclestone thats what you said last year!!!!!! :rolleyes:

P.S: And my I add !
 
It's a shame really, i've always liked Magny-Cours as a TV viewing circuit. That sharp hairpin at the end of the long straight and the whole Imola-Chateau D'eau section has often given us good on track entertainment.

They should extend the Bugatti LeMans circuit and host one there. Its got top notch facilities and plenty of local accommodation available.
 
Dijon would be good but I'm pretty sure it'd fall under the minimum laptime requirement.
 
Good point Roo, they are two very boring races. As I previously said, the danger level definetly takes it up a notch on interest terms.
 
I think Hungaroring takes the crown for boring, except when it's wet. They should just schedule the races around the dates where it is most likely to rain. But in my opinion, none of the tracks are really boring enough to remove.
 
Alex.
Dijon would be good but I'm pretty sure it'd fall under the minimum laptime requirement.
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Mmmm...Dijon. Nice track, great elevation changes and corners with adverse camber. It was good enough for F1 use in 1984, at just over 2 miles long (still longer than Monte Carlo, I believe). Reality is, it needs a year's time and lots of euros to make it sterile F1-friendly again.

I just don't want another street course.
 
Yes it appears to die a slow death, and I shall miss this classic track. For reasons opined by the Cracker, and the long sweeping right-hander (turn 2?). I sense a negative vibe on more street circuits but I am keen to see Valencia & Singapore. Good bye Magny, Mitterand would miss you.
 
Good riddance. The 1999 race was pretty good, no others have been memorable. I also dont like the fact that the track is in the middle of nowhere.
 
Pupik
I'll take Paul Ricard, thank you.
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Won't happen, I'm afraid. It's a permanent testing venue now, so it would probably create a procession of racing not unlike Catalunya. I don't know the cirumstances surrounding its demotion to testing facility, but it has to be better than Jerez, who were banned from ever hosting a Grand Prix again after the local mayor tried to force his way onto the podium one year ...
 
Do you race?
Won't happen, I'm afraid. It's a permanent testing venue now, so it would probably create a procession of racing not unlike Catalunya. I don't know the cirumstances surrounding its demotion to testing facility, but it has to be better than Jerez, who were banned from ever hosting a Grand Prix again after the local mayor tried to force his way onto the podium one year ...
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Jerez banned? Really? Interesting tidbit.
 
mustang245
Jerez banned? Really? Interesting tidbit.
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Apparently, which is a shame as it's infinitely superior to Catalunya and has produced some decent racing in the past (but it is a little narrow). It strikes me as odd though, given that Turkey only got a rap on the knuckles after they introduced the presenter of the awards as the president of the Turkish Republic of Cyprus when Turkey is the only nation that recognises such a country. It seems like the bigger offence, though I gather the mayor of Jerez was never invited in the first place.

Here's what Wiki has to say:
On December 12, 1997, the World Motorsport Council ruled that the mayor of Jerez, Pedro Pacheco, disrupted the podium ceremony. Originally, the verdict was that no further F1 races would occur at the track. However, when Mr Pacheco appeared before the WMSC, this ruling was rescinded.

The people chosen to present the trophies were dependent on the race order, with Daimler-Benz chairman Jürgen Schrempp only willing to make a presentation to a McLaren-Mercedes driver. As the McLarens of Häkkinen and Coulthard passed Villeneuve's Williams on the last lap, this would have meant he could present either the trophy for first or second position or the winning constructor trophy. There was some confusion due to the late changes in position and whilst the Mayor and the president of the region presented trophies, Schrempp did nothing. FIA president Max Mosley later announced "The disruption caused embarrassment and inconvenience to those presenting the trophies and therefore, no further rounds of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship will be held at the Jerez circuit."
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It seems Jerez can hold an event, but the contract for the 1999 European Grand Prix went to the Nurburgring, wich had previously gone by the title of Luxembourg Grand Prix.
 
Do you race?
...it has to be better than Jerez, who were banned from ever hosting a Grand Prix again after the local mayor tried to force his way onto the podium one year ...
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That's nothing compared to the '06 Turkish GP when the president of "Northern Cyprus" was allowed to hand out trophies. Bad form, but a really meager and imperceptible way to fly your flag.

Apparently, Bernie owns Paul Ricard, so that neither confirms nor denies a GP from ever being held there. On the other hand, Mr. Ecclestone doesn't want to lose his own money trying to hold an event!
 
Do you race?- Most excellent history lesson, thank you. I concur with your thoughts on Jerez. I think it is a mighty track, and I enjoyed winter testing from what I could see on Youtube.
 
Appie
Second that:tup:
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I respectfully disagree gents. I observed a striking difference between GP2 and F1 races, with mad, furious wheel to wheel action in GP2. Perhaps Fernando Alonso was correct recently when he said with F1 'freezes', GP2 threatens to catch up with F1. At least in race quality... I'm F1 to the bone but find myself paying more attention to GP2, which I used to ignore. (oops, sorry for DP).
 

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