French Grand Prix Deal Done says Ecclestone

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has revealed that the deal for the French Grand Prix to make a return to the Formula 1 calendar has been completed.

The race is set to take place at the Paul Ricard track from 2013 to 2021, meaning that a France will host a grand prix every alternate year.

Reports over the weekend said authorities had “finally agreed” a figure for the sanctioning fee with the F1 chief executive and Ecclestone confirmed the news on Sunday.

“The deal is done,” he told L’Equipe. “We agreed the financial terms with the sports minister David Douillet, in my office on Tuesday. We are still discussing a few things about money: ‘You give me this, I want that’. But, for me, there is no doubt, we will sign it now.”

The Ecclestone-owned Paul Ricard circuit is expected to share an annually-alternating grand prix date with Belgium’s Spa-Francorchamps, beginning in 2013.

Ecclestone added that the outcome of the forthcoming presidential elections in France will not spoil the deal.

“Whatever the outcome, I don’t care,” said Ecclestone. “That’s a local issue that doesn’t concern me.”

If the race does go ahead next year it will be the first French Grand Prix since 2008 when the event was held at Magny-Cours.

by Ismail Uddin