A Formula 1 Grand Prix is likely to be held in France next year but there is a huge battle raging between the circuits of Magny-Cours and Paul Ricard to stage the event.

The officials of the Paul Ricard Circuit presented their application on Tuesday to stage the race in Southern France.

The following excerpts are taken from the press release that was sent to the medias earlier today:

Invited by the Ministry of Sports and the Auto Racing French Federation (FFSA), the Paul Ricard Circuit representatives have presented this morning the basics of the Var’s project “F1 Frnch Grand Prix”, accompanied by the President of Var’s Board of Trade and Industry, the representative of the Var’s business partners.

This project aims to host the Formula 1 French Grand Prix every two years on the Paul Ricard Circuit, Le Castellet (Var) from August 2013.

Aerial view of the Paul Ricard paddock.

The organisation and the promotion of this international sportive event will be managed by the “Grand Prix de France” GIP promulgated on May 3rd 2012, whose founder members are:

The French State
The Var department
The Agglomeration Community of Toulon Provence Mediterranean
The Agglomeration Community of Sud Sainte Baume
The Board of Trade and Industry of the Var
The Auto Racing French Federation

The Paul Ricard Circuit teams will be put in charge of the technical and operational management.

The application is based on the following principles:
The wish of the local authorities
A location that is easy of access and located in the first touristic region of France
A ready-to-race race circuit
A crowd of 60,000 spectators
Attractive ticket prices
VIP services

During the presentation, the representatives of local authorities and of the Paul Ricard Circuit’s direction put the emphasis on the budget realism, the technical quality and the credibility of their project whish they work on for over twelve months with close consultation of FOM, FFSA and the Ministry of Sports.

Organisers and circuit’s officials are now waiting for a quick and favourable decision in order to add the Grand Prix to the 2013 FIA calendar.