Zoom France of the calendar for 2009 and 2010

Bernie Ecclestone has confirmed reports that France is likely to be missing from at least the next two F1 calendars.

The F1 CEO was responding to news that the prospective Disneyland Paris project pulled out for financial reasons.

Asked by the French daily L'Equipe if it means France will therefore be missing from the calendar both next year and in 2010, the 78-year-old billionaire answered: "I think it is quite sure.

"We went to Magny Cours for the wrong reasons, for political reasons. Let's try and avoid a repeat. What we want for sure is to find the right spot because the French Grand Prix has to be long lasting. "

Ecclestone said he would now look into two alternate locations near Paris, including Sarcelles, a commune in the capital's northern suburbs, and also Flins-fur-Seine, in the north west.

"The first thing now is that I want to go there and see for myself how it looks," he said.

France's motor racing federation the FFSA said last month that Disneyland Paris was among five 'serious' alternatives for the Grand Prix.

Source: GMM
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