The Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) have rejected a proposal from the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) to host the French Grand Prix at Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans.
Talking to French publication Le Main Libre, ACO President Pierre Fillon revealed future plans for the circuit, including a new resort and hotel.
“I think it would not bring anything” Fillon said as he explained the decision to turn down the FIA proposal. “We would need to invest 17 or 18 Million euros and finance it via the ticket booths exclusively, At best, we would be breaking even on such an event.”
A number of safety upgrades have been carried out ahead of this years 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans which takes place next month and the focus has turned to bringing in more spectators to the circuit.
“It won’t be a theme park but more of an experience related to the history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and (technical) innovation showing how mobility is heading towards electricity and hydrogen” Fillon revealed.
The resort is earmarked to be built near the museum at the main gate and is proposed to run alongside the main circuit to the kart track.
Like other circuits such as Silverstone, it is rumoured that a Porsche experience centre will also be built in the resort.
