Formula 1 set to return to France

FORMULA One World Championship racing is set to return to France from 2013, alternating with Belgium over a two-year cycle.

The announcement from Gilles Dufeigneux, the interministerial delegate for large sporting events, and Bernie Ecclestone, the chair of Formula 1 racing, is expected this afternoon.

The most likely circuit to be used is the Le Castellet circuit near Marseille which was purchased in 1999 by Excelis, a company owned by Bernie Ecclestone. It has been rebuilt extensively since then.

Historically, Le Mans, Reims, Rouen, Clermont-Ferrand, Dijon and the Magny-Cours circuit at Nevers have been used for circuits.

The circuit at Le Castellet was used for 14 races prior to 1990. The Magny-Cours circuit was then used to host races from 1991-2008 but did not host events subsequently "after examining the economic context" according to Grand Prix de France.

Bernie Ecclestone had criticised the infrastructure at Magny-Cours, as well as its isolated geographical position and negotiations to keep F1 racing in France in 2009 and 2010 failed.