Ecclestone ’has agreed’ to France/Spa alternation

France on Sunday made another clear step towards returning to the formula one calendar.

The L’Equipe sports daily said race-day at Spa-Francorchamps was a "great day for French motor sport", after Bernie Ecclestone apparently agreed to reinstate a French date on the 2013 calendar.

The report said the plan is for France, probably with a race at the Ecclestone-linked Paul Ricard circuit, to alternate a single annual date with Spa.

"We have a contract until 2013," said Belgian grand prix organiser Etienne Davignon, "and we feel that there is a strong tendency at present for an alternation (in future).

"So we went to see who might be interested and we found a public interest group," he added, referring to French prime minister Francois Fillon’s delegation.

Davignon said on French TF1 television that the plan is "with the knowledge of the authorities", and that Bernie Ecclestone "has agreed".

"It looks like a concrete proposal," he added.