Tuesday 5 February at 12:19 : Formula one has emerged as a leading topic in the French municipal election campaign in Versailles.

The French national daily Le Figaro on Monday ran a page-two article titled "(F1) in pole position in the campaign", outlining how efforts to move the country's formula one race to the wealthy Paris suburb is now a central debate by political candidates.

Versailles mayor Etienne Pinte rejects French minister Christine Albanel's view that a formula one street race should not be held in the city because of the many historic monuments.

"In a town like Monaco where there are a lot more constraints than in Versailles, there has never been a problem," the mayor argues.

Pinte also thinks the race could be developed at Satory plain, a former tank testing ground that is now used by Peugeot.

The UMP political party reportedly support Pinte's argument about the economical sense of Versailles staging a grand prix, although opponents have slammed the proposals as "aberrant and contrary to our engagements in sustainable development".