Five alternatives to replace Magny-Cours in 2010
It is no secret that Bernie Ecclestone is eagerly trying to find an alternative to host a French Grand Prix as Magny-Cours' infrastructure is found outdated. Five different alternatives are currently known and will be evaluated by the French automobile federation to determine the best option.
At the time of writing, 5 projects are the most likely to be chosen from: those of Marne-la-Vallee (Disneyland which is favoured by Bernie Ecclestone), Le Bourget, Evry, Melun and Sarcelles.
The leading optin is a revolutionary circuit at Marne-la-Vallée is under consideration, local governments have confirmed. The project involving Disneyland Paris is backed by Formula One champion Alain prost and the Lagardère group which would operate as the event promotor. It involves an investment of at least 50 million Euro, partly because it very much takes the environment under consideration. Architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte went to the drawing board. He also worked on the Melun project, putting forward a genuine desire to build the first "green circuit" of history: photovoltaic cells to produce electricity site, plants absorb CO2 emissions, noise walls, etc...
EuroDisney itself meanwhile, "formally denies being involved" in a draft circuit in Val d'Europe. "We are happy to make our land a future devolved to the third Disney park," said an official of the leisure giant, which denies having been approached by Lagardère. However, Arnaud de Belenet, the chairman of Val d'Europe: "Last spring, I have learned with amazement that the direction of Disney had commissioned studies on flows Road and absorptive capacity of public transit in the metropolitan area, for an annual event type Grand Prix F1".
Four outsiders are also still in the race. The Sarcelles project set up by former driver Jean-Pierre Beltoise is codenamed "Pôle Val de France". The details of which have only recently been uncovered: drawn under the direction of the architect Gilles Terrones, the complex aims to qualify HQE (high environmental quality) and would be built on 110 ha of land currently owned by the state.
The circuit, whose layout is yet to be determined, would comprise of 150.000 seats, 40.000 of which covered. The project is particularly supported by the former president of PSG, Charles Biétry.
Little is known on the remaining possibilities. All that is known from the Evry entry is that it is located in an oval with a road course in the centre of it.
The site chosen by Melun is close to the Villaroche airport. It should be 5.2 km long and requires an investment of approximately 140 M€.
Source: leparisien.fr
