An announcement that France will return to the Formula 1 calendar as early as 2013 is expected on Friday.
The race will likely alternate with the Belgian round at Spa-Francorchamps, meaning a return in 2013 would see Spa absent from the calendar next year.
French prime minister Francois Fillon will make an announcement about the event at the Paul Ricard circuit near Marseille on Friday.
France has been absent from the calendar since 2008 when the last race at Magny-Cours was held, won by Ferrari’s Felipe Massa.
Interest in returing to France has recently peaked with the introduction of three local drivers to the grid in 2012; Romain Grosjean, Jean-Eric Vergne and Charles Pic.
A report in a local newspaper suggests the organisers have agreed a deal with Bernie Ecclestone which will cost the government just £16.7m ($26.5m, €20m) annually, far less than recent introductions to the roster.
