Alesi secures Avignon race
Touring car ace Jean Alesi has succeeded in his bid for the DTM series to hold a race on the streets of the historic city of Avignon in the south of France
Alesi, who currently drives for Mercedes in the German touring car series, met city officials last month to discuss his race proposal that would have the St Benezet Bridge on the River Rhone as a backdrop.
A provisional 11-round DTM calendar, which will be confirmed later this year, includes Avignon alongside to other new venues in Istanbul and Spa-Francorchamps.
"I am so happy about this news. It's really going to be a fantastic event," Alesi told Autosport magazine. "The circuit will be five minutes from the city centre and will run just 50 metres from the famous bridge."
Brno, Zandvoort, Norisring, Lausitz, the Nurburgring and Oschersleben are set to continue on the calendar while a deal has recently been struck for Hockenheim to bookend the season in April and October. Estoril and Adria, though, are both likely to be dropped due to their poor attendances.
An event in Moscow is also thought to be under consideration while negotiations with the Sachsenring's owners seem to have broken down once again.
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