The First Totally Ecological Race Track in the World

A plan to build a new Formula 1 race track outside Paris that would be, according to the architect, the first totally ecological race track in the world has turned into a row between France's sports car-mad prime minister and two cabinet members who say it would be an ecological disaster.

Hundreds of environmentalists demonstrated over the weekend in Versailles against the track with banners saying: "F1: Non, Organic (farming): Yes".

Alain Prost, the former quadruple world champion who has lobbied for the Paris area track, said that it had become the victim of a "political problem".

"Things have to be clear at the government level," he told Le Journal du Dimanche. "It's typical of France." "A Grand Prix around Paris would be as strong (a message) as the football World Cup," he added. Mr Prost recently declared that France was "anti-cars".

Ferrari caravan stops in Slovenia

The 60th anniversary of legendary Italian carmaker Ferrari prompted the sports car manufacturer to put together a caravan of its vehicles to transverse the globe.


A part of the caravan, twelve Ferraris in all, stopped in Ljubljana on Saturday, 19 May, to a welcome by Italian Ambassador to Slovenia Daniele Verga and Mayor Zoran Jankovic.

Slovenia contributed a doorknob, designed by the country's most celebrated architect Joze Plecnik for the National and University Library building.

The horse-shaped knob was chosen because Ferrari's symbol is a black prancing stallion on a yellow shield. The caravan had already visited most of the world and its tour is expected to end on 25 June in Maranello, the headquarters of Ferrari.