The French Grand Prix in Paris ... or How About at Disneyland?

The Euro Disney theme park outside of Paris has been cited as possible venue for a change of location of the French Grand Prix. In today's issue of the French auto racing magazine, AutoHebdo, in an interview with Bernie Ecclestone that took place last weekend, the Formula 1 promoter reveals that the French Grand Prix could move from Magny-Cours to a Paris location as early as 2009.

Magny-Cours is well hated by the teams and many journalists, and well, just about anyone who has sat in traffic jams for several hours trying to go the last couple of miles into the circuit. The track is in the middle of farm country with few hotels and an unfinished highway, so it is not nearly as easy to attend the race as most of the other venues.

"The tendency with the new races is to bring F1 as close as possible to the public and in an exceptional decor, with all the necessary facilities at hand," said Ecclestone, in my translation from the French. "The economic benefits of a French Grand Prix 'of Paris,' the world's No. 1 tourist destination, would be exceptional, both for France and for F1. And the teams wouldn't drag their feet anymore to go there!"

He told the magazine that plans were underfoot and that he wouldn't hesitate to agree as soon as something more advanced was proposed to him. He said they might even consider doing something like canceling the French Grand Prix of 2008 in order to start off on a better foot in 2009. AutoHebdo said that its sources have told it that the two most likely settings for the race are either Versailles or EuroDisney - where, naturally, there is no lack of parking lots and hotels....

Of course, I'm wild about this idea, because it would mean that for once I would be able to stay at home and go to a race at the same time!