Paul Ricard returns to the F1 calendar in 2018

Yesterday afternoon saw the announcement that Formula 1 will return to France after a 10-year hiatus, with a grand prix to take place at the Paul Ricard circuit in 2018.

The head of Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur region Christian Estrosi confirmed the race’s return in the summer of 2018 in a press conference on Monday afternoon, after news on the prospect emerged last week.

In an announcement to the media yesterday, Estrosi who is the head of the PACA region has publically announced the return of Paul Ricard to the F1 calendar as follows:-

“Today I can announce clearly, firmly, and finally, the return of the French Grand Prix for the summer in 2018 in the Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, at the circuit Paul Ricard,” said Etrosi.

“We are proud of this great return after 10 years. In 2018 it will be 10 years since the Grand Prix left the country, and this is a huge victory for the men who worked for its success.

“When we know how motorsport is so popular in our country – and we are ambassadors and bearers of innovation, creation, research and development, it was for our country a real scar to lose the Grand Prix.

“Since then there have been several efforts – and I want to pay tribute to former Prime Minister Francois Fillon and FFSA president Nicolas Deschaux and many others who worked hard for the return of the race.”

Estrosi then added further the deal is for five years, with a long-term arrangement crucial to ensure an agreement could be reached.

Also in a statement to the media yesterday, Stephane Clair, the track's general manager, has welcomed the news that Paul Ricard and the French Grand Prix are returning to the Formula 1 schedule, and he firmly believes the track is up to F1 standard and will be a complete success.

“We have always been optimistic because out site is up to the current standards of F1,” said Clair. “We talked with experts about technical issues and costs, to end certain preconceptions against us – like the alleged difficulties with access of spectator facilities.

“For the Bol D'Or in 2015, the traffic plan worked and that allowed us to accommodate 70,000 spectators. And this plan will evolve further by the French Grand Prix in 2018.”

France hosted the very first grand prix in 1906, but lost the race just over a century later because of financial difficulties. However, the Paul Ricard circuit last hosted the French Grand Prix in 1990, before Magny-Cours took over until 2008, while Paul Ricard was closed for racing between 1999 and the mid-2000s.

But with contemporary F1 machinery last took to the track in January of this year, when Ferrari, Red Bull and McLaren took part in a wet-weather tyre test for Pirelli with their 2015 cars.

It is the second European race to return to the F1 calendar in recent years, following the reintroduction of the the Austrian GP at Spielberg in 2014. However the announcement follows last week’s news that Germany has again fallen off the calendar next year which is itself is a great shame.

Sarah Jones- @jonesy_laaa