French hero Sebastien Bourdais is adamant his home grand prix has to remain on the Formula One calendar.
Although there is again talk Magny-Cours is staging its last race this year, Circuit de Nevers officials have announced major plans for improvements.
Like Silverstone and the British Grand Prix, it is hoped the revamp will be enough to convince F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone to shelve his plans to move the race to another venue.
The circuit's remoteness, in the heart of France away from cities and airports, has always been a thorn in its side, and reason as to why Ecclestone has long mooted a move to a venue near Paris.
But four-time ChampCar champion Bourdais, competing in his first French Grand Prix for Toro Rosso this weekend, hopes the matter can be resolved.
Bourdais feels the race cannot afford to fall by the wayside, with the 29-year-old commenting: "People keep saying the race will not be here next year.
"But I don't care what they say. We'll see what happens. I think there have been good negotiations with the French government, and everybody is on the same frequency.
"France is obviously a big nation of racing, and we need a French Grand Prix - it's as simple as that.
"It doesn't matter whether it is here (Magny-Cours) or somewhere else.
"If we want to do it somewhere else, we are going to need a bit of time because it's not going to happen overnight.
"I personally hope we will see it here again next year because we can't afford to have a blank year and not come to France. That would drop the interest."
Bourdais appreciates there is no other venue in France that could host a grand prix at present.
Whilst Paris is Ecclestone's preferred stage, Bourdais feels the logistics and cost involved would prove problematic.
"It would have to be a new project," added Bourdais.
"The Bugatti (at Le Mans) is not a Formula One track and I don't think the ACO (Automobile Club de l'Ouest) is very interested.
"Paul Ricard is now very atypical, and not really usable for a Formula One grand prix, so it would have to be a new site.
"It would be a huge undertaking. You need to find the right place to build it, and that would take time, but I think they're looking at it very closely.
"It couldn't be in Paris, but it could be nearby. That's probably the best option.
"But it would be very complex, and it would take a huge amount of money to get the project done."
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