Marseille to host London-style live F1 event

The French city will host the event in June next year, with F1 drivers and teams in attendance, in the build-up to the race.

It will be a similar event to that one hosted by London earlier this year to promote Formula 1 ahead of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

French GP organisers said the Marseille event will be a "big show" organised by Formula One Management.

France will return to the Formula 1 calendar in 2018 after an absence of 10 years. The race will take place at the Paul Ricard circuit.

"There will be a big show in Marseille, in the build-up to the race, like what was done in London this year before Silverstone," French Grand Prix director Gilles Dufeigneux told Motorsport.com.

"As far as the grand prix itself is concerned, there will be a fan zone like the one that's been developed this year since the Spanish Grand Prix. It was very impressive at Silverstone and Spa.

"We were in Mexico last week, it was the same, the drivers will agree. It was very professional. The fan zones include simulators, tyre changing in the pits, waving the chequered flags and merchandising with a lot of F1-themed merchandise.

"The new promoters [Liberty Media] are giving it all they've got for F1 to become a lot more popular."

Dufeigneux said the exact date of the show was yet to be determined, but it is expected to take place the week before the race, scheduled for June 24.

"It's being discussed, but it will be in the week of the grand prix.

"The goal is to have strong engagement in the Marseille metropolitan area."