The officials of the Circuit Paul Ricard in France Wednesday issued a press release that is clearly targeted to those who'd like to see the return of the French Grand Prix to happen at the circuit of Magny-Cours.

The former French goverment of Nicolas Sarkozy almost reached an agreement with the FOM to stage the return of the French Grand Prix at the Paul Ricard HTTT circuit in southern France. But that was before the presidential elections...

The new socialist government of France would rather see the F1 race to take place at the Magny-Cours circuit. However, the FOM is against this idea as it claims that the rural circuit does not have adequate infrstructures and is located away from a major city.

On May 14, Charlie Whiting, F1 Race Director and F1 Safety Delagate for FIA visited the Paul-Ricard circuit and wrote a letter to the track officials.

“The circuit and its facilities are very remarkables and answer at the most strict standards: track surface, run off, walls, barriers and wire protections are in a perfect condition,” Whiting wrote.

In a detailed report, the FIA circuit commission renews with no reservation the approval of Degree 1 of the French track until July 2016.

Photo: Circuit Paul-Ricard/DPPI

This approval confirms the Paul Ricard Circuit is allowed to host F1 free and official testing sessions and F1 international competitions, on three different tracks solutions and without supplementary construction.

"Thanks to the latest laying out on the pitlane, with the installation of high wire protection and secured posts for marshals around the track, the Paul Ricard Circuit answers to all the latest regulation evolutions," said Stephane Clair, Circuit Director, in a press release.

"The quality of our technical facilities - timing, telemetry, video network, stands - and our receptive facilities - 3 and 5 stars hotels, conference rooms, grandstands and VIP terraces - allow us to welcome the most exacting teams, and this with a mediterranean weather all year. Without forget the fact that here the environment is respected with 350 ha of preserved pine forest,” he added.