Formula 1 is considering introducing a Mediterranean Grand Prix onto the calendar, according to a report in this week’s Autosport magazine.
The circuits most likely to stage the race are Valencia in Spain and the Bernie Ecclestone-owned Paul Ricard track near Marseille.
Both current F1 testing venues believe that they can take the place of European tracks in financial trouble, such as the Nurburgring, Spa and Hockenheim, and launch a race under the banner of the Mediterranean GP.
While Valencia announced in February plans to upgrade the Ricardo Tormo track at an estimated cost of £10 million and then pitch for an F1 race, Paul Ricard say that they could hold a round of the championship at very short notice.
Despite a lack of grandstands at the venue which hosted 14 French GPs between 1971 and 1990, the circuit’s CEO Philippe Gurdjian has touted the idea of staging a “VIP race”- an event broadcast live but with no fans at the track.