Since its very inception, motorsport has been a synonymous with
France. What is reputed to be the world's first auto race was held
between the cities of Paris and Rouen in the late nineteenth
century, and since then the French have played a leading role in
motorsport worldwide, F1 being no exception. The country has
produced high calibre drivers such as Laffite, Trintignant, Cevert,
Beltois, Jabouille, Arnoux, Depailler, Alesi, Panis - all race
winners - and of course, four times world champion Alain Prost.
Their teams have had some success, with Matra, Ligier and Renault
all tasting glory at one point or another. Races have been held in
Reims, Rouen, Charade, Paul Ricard, Magny-Cours and even Le Mans.
It's a history to be proud of.
This ingrained motorsport culture makes it shocking and
saddening that in 2011, there were no French drivers on the grid.
Nor was there a French car manufacturer, with even Renault
pronouncing themselves British. To add insult to injury, the French
Grand Prix is long gone. How is it possible that a country with
such a unique connection to motorsport has disappeared so totally
from the very pinnacle?
Well, it appears that France's prayers are about to be answered.
Next year, three Frenchmen will take to the grid. GP2 champion
Romain Grosjean will partner Kimi Raikkonen at Lotus, Formula
Renault 3.5 runner-up Jean-Eric Vergne will drive for Toro Rosso,
whilst GP2 race winner Charles Pic starts life at Marussia. This is
France's new generation, and it is a talented one. Meanwhile,
Renault may have withdrawn as a manufacturer - but their engine
division goes from strength to strength, winning back to back world
titles with Red Bull and re-establishing their legendary
partnership with Williams from next year. There is even a proposal
for the French Grand Prix to return to Paul Ricard, alternating
every other year with the Belgian Grand Prix at
Spa-Francorchamps.
Of course, other Frenchmen hold significant sway in the paddock.
Jean Todt rules over the FIA (which is based in Paris), while Eric
Boullier continues in his role as Lotus team principal. And of
course, they have Jules Bianchi, recently promoted to Ferrari's
foremost test driver and widely tipped to join the grid in the near
future.
For years, France was left out in the cold. It seems unthinkable
that the country where motorsport was born had no driver, whilst
Venezuela does. It is equally unbelievable that they have no team,
whilst Russia does. More shocking still is the idea that we visit
the volatile kingdom of Bahrain, but not the home of Paris-Dakar
and the Le Mans 24 hours. It is the sign of a changing world that
Formula One is increasingly neglecting its European origins, but
the extent to which France has been removed from the sport's heart
has been sad to witness.
In 2012 however, France is back. Three drivers mean it equals
the British tally and is second only to Germany, whilst Renault now
supplies powerplants to a third of the grid from its Viry-Châtillon
factory. At last it appears that French fans have something to
cheer for, and if all goes well then they'll have a home race from
which to do so. There's a long way to go, but perhaps France might
yet add a second world champion to its illustrious list of
motorsport heroes.