Racing veteran Serge Saulnier (below) has been named chairman of Magny-Cours, with ex-F1 engineer Gilles Alegoet as member of the new board of directors. The appointments were made by the circuit’s supervisory board, headed by local politician Dr Georges Eymery. The appointment has the support of the local council, which owns the facility. Guy Ligier, the former F1 team owner, has also become a shareholder in the circuit. Invest Grand Duché, a company whose major shareholder is Ligier, has bought a stake in the circuit’s management company with an investment of €402,000.
“After the creation of the circuit by Jean Bernigaud and then the purchase of the land and infrastructure by the County Council of the Nièvre region in order to rebuild the site for the Formula 1 French Grand Prix, which was held continuously between 1991-2008, this is the third most important phase in the circuit’s history thanks to the recruitment of individuals with a proven background in motorsport,” said Marcel Charmant, the head of the local council. “Magny-Cours represents the circuit and its facilities, but also the Technopole, its companies, which are motorsport industry leaders, its capacity as a training and research centre at the highest level, especially in the area of new energies.”
Saulnier (57) is a resident of Magny-Cours and between 1980 and 2006 owned the Promatecme and Saulnier Racing teams at the circuit, before becoming the Sporting Director and Team Manager of Peugeot Sport in September 2006.
“I take this role knowing the responsibilities that have been bestowed on me in a difficult economic and sporting climate,” Saulnier said. “The automotive industry as a whole and motorsport in particular, are changing. We must be creative, imaginative and rigorous in order to best meet the challenges of tomorrow while simultaneously developing the number, quality and success of our major automotive and motorbike events. I will assume this task in the best interests of the Magny-Cours circuit, its partners and its public.”
Alegoet (49) has also been nominated as a member of the Board.
“I first discovered the Magny-Cours circuit in 1989 when I started working in Formula 1 as an engineer with Guy Ligier’s team,” he said. “I am happy to now use my experience for the benefit of this magnificent, world renowned circuit, which is part of French motorsport heritage.”
Alegoet worked at Ligier between 1989 and 1994 moved to Sauber for the 1995-1998 period and then joined Prost Grand Prix (1999-02) before becoming Technical and Commercial Director of Martini Automobiles in Magny-Cours in 2003.
Don’t really have anything to say about this piece (other than I rather like Magny Cours, yet another unpopular opinion of mine
).
What I really wanted to say is that banner photograph you are running at the top of the site right now (the Merc with Michael) is absolutely fantastic. I love it!
Joe, what are the prospects for the return of the French GP? We now have a French FIA president, who is being widely credited with helping to restore the British GP, can we expect him to pull some strings for his home GP? Add in new management at Magny Cours, investment……..
Unlike Aaron I don’t like the actual track much, but overall I have always enjoyed the weekend the several times I have visited.
Magny-Cours is a middle-of-the-pack racetrack. Not the best, but not the worst, either.
But its issue is that it’s a middle-of-nowhere circuit. It needs to get government help to have highways and/or other activity centres (bars, coffee shops, restos, the like) near or around the circuit.
Martin C,
I doubt it. The government does not seem to be interested beyond paying lip service to the idea. Fillon is interested only in Le Mans, where he is a member of the ACO and his brother is a big cheese in the organisation. Le Mans does not want to disrupt its 24 Hours with the French GP. The FFSA seems to be interested only in rallying. To be brutally frank, French motor racing is in a dire state. Sad.
I wish we could see a return to Paul Ricard instead. And with a layout closer to the fast original, not the current hobbled variation.
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