French GP at LeMans?

Mal · 30 Sep 2003, 06:55 (Ref:734936)

I know this is not really for this forum but F1 Live are suggesting that the French GP could be held on the Bugatti circuit as early as next year.

If this is true it could has serious implications for the circuit and lead to significant development. Perhaps the recent anouncments regarding developing the facilities and extenting the Bugatti circuit are tied in with this.

Javi · 30 Sep 2003, 07:20 (Ref:734953)

Interesting, but I don´t think so. Le Mans bugatti is not a F1 kind of track. Is too narrow and too short. Good for bikes, but not F1. Will need a complete redesign, but who knows...

kdr · 30 Sep 2003, 08:47 (Ref:735036)

bernie owns paul ricard...so this simply won't happen.

imho of course!

Fab · 30 Sep 2003, 09:17 (Ref:735060)

I didn't dare to post the news this morning, but I can see that Mal did !

False news and gossips : ACO denied it this morning in the local paper, despite the fact that the news was published first by AFP (Agence France Presse, the french Reuter).

The track is not homologated for F1, BTW...

Big Mac · 30 Sep 2003, 10:40 (Ref:735156)

F1 back at Le Mans? I for one would like to see it. Surely racing at Le Mans has to be 20 times better than F1 running around at Magny Cours!! Plus it would give F1 something that has been missing for years in my book, heritage and substance. A sense of history that Le Mans can inspire. I think that it'd be great for F1.

cybersdorf · 30 Sep 2003, 10:43 (Ref:735159)

Quote:

Originally posted by Big Mac
F1 back at Le Mans? I for one would like to see it. Surely racing at Le Mans has to be 20 times better than F1 running around at Magny Cours!!

Is the Bugstti circuit really better than Magny Cours?

Fogelhund · 30 Sep 2003, 11:04 (Ref:735174)

Quote:

Originally posted by cybersdorf
Is the Bugstti circuit really better than Magny Cours?

C'mon Cy, is it ever about which circuit is better to Bernie, or where he can best line his pockets?

the_fury · 30 Sep 2003, 12:20 (Ref:735244)

As a tangental sort of point, does anyone have an idea what sort of time an F1 car might post around the FULL circuit? An educated guess perhaps?

cybersdorf · 30 Sep 2003, 12:37 (Ref:735260)

Quote:

Originally posted by Fogelhund
C'mon Cy, is it ever about which circuit is better to Bernie, or where he can best line his pockets?

Do I care about what's good for Bernie?
Do I care about F1, for that matter.

Mal · 30 Sep 2003, 13:45 (Ref:735348)

Nor do I really, but we would care if it affected LeMans

RacingManiac · 30 Sep 2003, 15:05 (Ref:735461)

Quote:

Originally posted by the_fury
As a tangental sort of point, does anyone have an idea what sort of time an F1 car might post around the FULL circuit? An educated guess perhaps?

I am guessing in the 3:10s?

Dauntless · 30 Sep 2003, 15:26 (Ref:735481)

I just watched the USGP last Sunday and listened to them whining about having to go full throttle for 25 seconds on "the longest straight-away in Formula One..." Given that, I can't see them turning these cars loose on a track with half a dozen straights even longer than Indy's.

Besides, if the French F1 races moves anywhere, my money says it will be to Paul Ricard...

Of course, I would LOVE to be wrong...!

Dani Filth · 30 Sep 2003, 16:59 (Ref:735575)

the Paul Ricard circuit is better then the Bugatti one IMHO

.. without the straights .. Bugatti could be quite dull for F1 .. but for MotoGP is pretty good(as was Paul Ricard

)

SALEEN S7R · 30 Sep 2003, 17:14 (Ref:735587)

I think the Bugatti circuit could host F1 in terms of track layouts and safety facilties, there was a Euro F3 race there ealrier this year and that went off fine. I know F1 is differnt to F3, but not massively. Still I dont think this will happen and I certainly dont think the Bugatti circuit is better than Magny Cours..

beausejour · 30 Sep 2003, 23:11 (Ref:736022)

I don't want to be arrogant, but I will NOT be pleased to see F1-cars on my all time favorite racetrack.

Circuit de la Sarthe - in my opinion- is meant to be raced by Sportscars and GT's, and I also don't want to see thousands of spectators dressed in red shirts and caps

That's partly the reason why I don't visit F1 that much anymore....

Bernie has done enough damage to motorsports, so HANDS OFF Le Mans !

beausjour ( who wants to see F1-cars with headlights though

)

paul-collins · 1 Oct 2003, 00:02 (Ref:736066)

Quote:

Originally posted by beausejour
I don't want to be arrogant, but I will NOT be pleased to see F1-cars on my all time favorite racetrack.

My thoughts exactly. Who wants to see this with Ferrari and Williams instead of Bentley and Audi?

Fab · 1 Oct 2003, 05:55 (Ref:736245)

FORGET IT !

To Cy : no, I don't think the track is adaptated to F1

And no french fan wants to see F1 on the track, neither La Sarthe or ACO (too expensive, too demanding in term of equipements)...

NO WAY ! Rumours, gossips, etc...

Fab · 1 Oct 2003, 05:58 (Ref:736247)

Quote:

Originally posted by paul-collins
My thoughts exactly. Who wants to see this with Ferrari and Williams instead of Bentley and Audi?

A real french cover : see on the right, Pesca COurage, Courage and Alphand Ferrari...

BTW, has anybody a good pic of the start taken from the front like this one ? I love them (I have a good one of 1999, but I haven't got the copyright...)

kdr · 1 Oct 2003, 08:48 (Ref:736353)

check your email fab.

Fab · 1 Oct 2003, 09:09 (Ref:736360)

Quote:

Originally posted by kdr
check your email fab.

I owe you a

**Adam43** · 1 Oct 2003, 11:52 (Ref:736558)

Personally I think there is nothing in this.

I wouldn't mind F1 cars at Le Mans, but it strikes me as being pointless. The second big motor race in France should be somewhere different to share it around.

I am not sure if the Bugatti circuit is really suited to F1 cars. Although the 1000k is held on it.

An F1 race there won't have the same atmosphere or be as much an event as the once a year 24 hours. The greatest race on Earth or F1 cars on the Bugatti? No contest.

kdr · 1 Oct 2003, 12:32 (Ref:736604)

to me it seems like another example of the f1 world ignoring fact in order to create a story. IF the french gp moved - its obvious it would go to bernies paul ricard...simple. maybe we should start a lmes race to be held at monaco rumour!

**Aysedasi** · 1 Oct 2003, 12:34 (Ref:736608)

I couldn't give a monkey's about either Bernie or F1. But I would be very worried if F1 came to Le Mans. But it'll never happen. The one time (1967) that F1 did come to Le Mans it was almost a case of "never again". In my opinion, the Bugatti is wholly unsuitable for F1 and there is no chance at all of F1 ever using the full circuit.

Fab · 1 Oct 2003, 13:27 (Ref:736681)

Nobody in La Sarthe wants to pay for an F1 event : there won't be no GP in Le Mans.

For Paul Ricard (well, we have to say Le Castelet), there's a lack of grandstands...

I think the next move for the french GP is... abroad ! (tobacco law)

SALEEN S7R · 1 Oct 2003, 13:37 (Ref:736693)

I was thinking, and was sure that F1 cars would race at Le Mans this year. And they are! Well of sorts. Euro Boss will be racing there from 25-26 October this year at the Bugatti track. The series for those of u who dont know are for F1 and F3000 cars and champ cars up to 1998 spec. Although the newest are a couple of MS Bennetons from 95. http://www.euroboss2003.co.uk/calendar.htm

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