The troubled French Grand Prix will go ahead as scheduled this year, Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone announced today.
"Yes it's on, there will be 18 races," Ecclestone said after a meeting with team principals and International Automobile Federation (FIA) president Max Mosley.
The confirmation of the July 4th race at Magny-Cours means that the 2004 calendar will have an unprecedented 18 races with new circuits in Bahrain and China making their debuts.
France, which hosted the very first grand prix in 1906 and ranks with Italy and Britain as a cradle of motor racing, risked losing its slot in the championship due to financial problems.
The race was listed provisionally on the original calendar and organisers had to sign a contract and secure the agreement of all 10 teams to attend an 18th race by last December 31 to prevent cancellation.