Alain Prost has admitted he is frustrated that moves to revive a French grand prix have so far not succeeded.<\/p>\n
After the demise of the Magny Cours event, the quadruple world champion actively supported the major alternative projects, including one at Flins-Les-Mureaux as well as Disneyland Paris.<\/p>\n
He told RMC radio that he is concerned efforts to put France back onto the F1 calendar is losing momentum.<\/p>\n
“It must not be buried now,” said Prost.<\/p>\n
“There was a great opportunity last year at the time of the regional (elections), and a first draft for Disney which in hindsight was perhaps a bit complicated.<\/p>\n
“But Flins was an exceptional site with a real project, a real business plan, and formula one to happen for only eight hours in a year, to appease the critics,” he explained.<\/p>\n
“There was a real programme for the utilisation of the circuit, with an economic and social advantage.<\/p>\n
“There would have been 100,000 extra people near Paris.\u00a0 Everyone was enthusiastic, especially Bernie Ecclestone.<\/p>\n
“But the project was abandoned when everything was ready and financed, because of the regional election and an environmental problem that was essentially political,” Prost charged.<\/p>\n
He confirmed that the biggest problem seems to be a lack of political will.<\/p>\n
“Do we want a grand prix of France?” wondered Prost.\u00a0 “Today, there are no French drivers in F1, Renault will soon not be called Renault … it’s a bit complicated and a financial issue.<\/p>\n
“The price asked by Bernie Ecclestine (for a GP) is variable — about EUR 15 million per year in Europe.\u00a0 Abroad, it is between 30 and 40 million, as in Abu Dhabi.<\/p>\n
“It’s an economic equation: how many spectators can you get?\u00a0 (If it’s) about 50 or 60,000, and the price is 15 million, your losses are about 8 million.<\/p>\n
“Who can put up 8 million?\u00a0 So if the politicians or the government are not saying ‘it’s important for France to have a grand prix’, it’s not worth talking about.<\/p>\n
“It’s rubbish when I hear that what is needed is a promoter.\u00a0 The promoter (of the Disneyland Paris project) was the Lagardere group and myself.<\/p>\n
“Above all what is important is that the economics are sustainable,” added Prost.
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
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