French Grand Prix tackles monster tailbacks

French Grand Prix organizers are spending one million euros ($1.13 million) to ensure the monster tailbacks that marred last year's race at the Paul Ricard circuit are not repeated this season.

The return of the race to the Formula One calendar after an absence of 27 years was a success on the track, with Lewis Hamilton taking the chequered flag for Mercedes.

But off it traffic ground to a halt with six kilometre tailbacks producing over-heating cars and fuming fans.

The organizers' plan announced Thursday (Friday Phl time) aims to free up the roads around the circuit for the 2019 edition on June 23.

French Grand Prix managing director Gilles Dufeigneux hailed the 2018 race "as a huge success" with 160,000 spectators flocking to the circuit over the race weekend.

"But access to the circuit was difficult," he added, stressing that improving this was now "a priority".

Among the planned changes are free parking and a 'Park and Ride' shuttle service.

"The idea is to reduce by a third (10,000)) the number of cars arriving at the circuit," said Dufeigneux.