MARCH 10, 1997

French GP still in danger

PHILIPPE GURDJIAN, the promoter of the French Grand Prix, was much in evidence in Melbourne, where he met with F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone trying to sort out the problems surrounding the Magny Cours event.

PHILIPPE GURDJIAN, the promoter of the French Grand Prix, was much in evidence in Melbourne, where he met with F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone trying to sort out the problems surrounding the Magny Cours event.

Gurdjian has until April 30 to find a solution to legal problems over the televising of the event, resulting from a court decision which allowed the FR3 channel access to film at the circuit, despite the fact that Ecclestone has an exclusive contract for the terrestrial French TV rights with rival channel TF1. The existing French laws over the rights of access for press organizations contains two contradictory clauses and it will take a change in the statutes for the problem to be solved. France's Minister of Youth and Sport Guy Drut says he will sort out the problem although changing laws in France is not an easy business.

The most likely solution to the problem is that the race will have to be run this year under the current rules but the 1998 race will be canceled definitively unless the law is changed.