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France unveils plans for new F1 track

By Jonathan Noble Thursday, March 12th 2009, 13:59 GMT

The prospect of the French Grand Prix returning to the Formula 1 calendar moved a step closer on Thursday when plans for a new home for the event were unveiled.

Following months of discussions to try and find a suitable venue for the race, it was announced that a new track at Flins-Les Mureaux, north east of Paris, has been given the nod as French authorities' preferred option.

The track, which will be 4.5k m in length, beat off competition from four other venues that had made the final shortlist.

The track will feature a one-km long straight and, at a cost of 112 million Euros to construct, was the cheapest of the four possibilities being looked at.

French architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte will work with British construction experts Apex UK, who also helped build the Dubai Autodrome, to head up the project.

The track is expected to be ready in time for the 2011 season, although a final decision about the return of the French GP will be made by Bernie Ecclestone.

No Tilke Than there might be a chance that it's gonna be a good circuit!

Yes because the racing on all Tilke tracks is just terrible.

You see quite a lot of overtaking at Bahrain. It's still a horrible circuit.

French architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte will work with British construction experts Apex Circuit Design, who also helped build the Dubai Autodrome, to head up the project.