Pau Grand Prix canned for 2010

First held in 1901, the race was revived in 1933 and again after the Second World War. Significant winners of the event include world champions Juan Manuel Fangio, Jim Clark and Lewis Hamilton.

City mayor Martine Ligineres-Cassou said that the decision was part of a plan to ensure the long-term future of the event.

"The will of the city of Pau is to sustain its grand prix," said Ligineres-Cassou. "That is the reason why we are suspending the 2010 edition and will use these next 20 months to build a project that will debut in 2011."

The street race became most famous as the jewel in the crown of Formula 2 and F3000 racing from the mid-1960s until 1998.

Gil de Ferran, who won the race in its Formula 3000 guise, told AUTOSPORT: "It's a real shame, because it was one of the premier events in Europe. I'm proud to be able to say I won there in 1994.

"Pau offered a unique challenge. There was so much crown in the road and some flat-out corners surrounded by walls. Amazing."

Since 2007, the grand prix has been a round of the World Touring Car Championship - which confirmed last week that Pau would be replaced by Zolder next year.