Official: Yvelines abandons the F1 circuit project

Alain Schmitz, the President of the General Council, announces that the Yvelines Department is withdrawing the project to construct a Formula 1 circuit in Flins. As a flagship initiative of the support plan for the automotive industry launched more than a year ago, the circuit helped set the Valley of the Automobile and Sustainable Mobility on the right track. However, the project is abandoned, and the 2011 French Grand Prix is still at an impasse at this time.

Schmitz, who succeeded Pierre Bédier following recent insider trading cases, stated: « As for your question about the news concerning the circuit, it is set within a complex context, and we, at the general council, are far from having control over all the information. »

« In the absence of the necessary support that I had wished for on July 3rd during my election as President of the General Council, and after consulting all stakeholders involved in this matter, whether partners or opponents, I have made the decision, in agreement with all elected members of the departmental assembly, to abandon the construction of a Formula 1 circuit. » he continues

Today, our priority is to continue the development of the Automobile and Sustainable Mobility Valley, which is part of the Grand Paris project, and to emerge strengthened from the crisis.

Marne la Vallée remains the most viable project alongside Paul Ricard, yet no real progress has been made for several months. Quite the opposite, in fact.