DECEMBER 7, 1998

Magny-Cours safe until 2001

THE French Grand Prix will continue to be held at Magny-Cours until the year 2001. The race had been in difficulties because of legal problems related to access for television cameras. This involved the passage of legislation through the FrenchÊNationalÊAssembly.

These were finally sorted out in February and in June the circuit announced that it had reached agreement with the FrenchÊAutomobile Sport Federation (FFSA) for the race to continue at Magny-Cours until the year 2001. The problem was that the race - which has been run at Magny-Cours since 1991 - was losing money as it failed to attract big crowds. Initially this was not a problem as the French government was happy to pay as President Francois Mitterand and PrimeÊMinisterÊPierre Beregovoy were both local men and wanted to use the race to stimulate growth in the region.

A change of government left the race struggling to survive but we understand that a deal has now been struck between the organizers, the FFSA and the French Ministry of Youth and Sport to ensure that the race survives.