WhackyWill Posted September 16, 2014 Share Posted September 16, 2014 (edited) Any of our Welsh Members on here know if this is going to happen as I believe they have signed a contract for Moto GP for 2016.. South Wales to get new racing circuit for 2015 Wales, already home to some of the UK’s best driving roads, is getting an all-new purpose-built racing circuit. The 3.5-mile track, to be christened ‘Circuit of Wales’, is due to be opened in 2015/2016, with work beginning on the site later in 2013. Where will the Circuit of Wales be built? The planned venue will be set in the Ebbw Vale, in Blaenau Gwent, South Wales, around 25 miles from Cardiff. Work is due to start on the 830-acre site once final approval has been granted from Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council to the outfit responsible for the circuit, the Heads of the Valleys Development Ltd. The site still needs to be surveyed and an environmental assessment to be completed before work can commence. What exactly will be built at the Circuit of Wales site? As well as the main 3.5-mile racetrack, designed by the same company that’s working on Wimbledon’s Centre Court roof, there’ll also be a motocross circuit, international-spec karting track, and off-road driving courses. A hotel and leisure complex is also planned – the Circuit of Wales is aiming to host international racing events, track days, manufacturer development and driving training programmes to encourage and nurture future British racing champions. In an effort to remain eco-conscious, the site will partly generate its own energy. How much is all this going to cost? The current budget for the Circuit of Wales is £350m for the public-private ownership programme, making the project the largest privately funded investment in motorsport ever seen in the UK. Makes the Nurburgring look like a bargain. Will the new track make any money? Heads of the Valleys Development Company Ltd. estimate 3000 jobs will be created during construction of the circuit, which, once complete, will reportedly attract 750,000 visitors a year. It’s hoped the Circuit of Wales will contribute as much as £50m per year to the UK economy. The Heads of the Valleys Development Company Ltd, pictured, right, said ‘I’d like to acknowledge the tremendous support of the local community of Blaenau Gwent and the Welsh Government. Michael Carrick continued: ‘We promise to deliver a truly innovative and sustainable business, helping to deliver long-term economic and social benefits for the region.’ Edited September 16, 2014 by WhackyWill 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glrnet Posted September 16, 2014 Share Posted September 16, 2014 BBC seem quite confident (but that's maybe not a good thing these days ) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-28778032 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMballistic Posted September 16, 2014 Share Posted September 16, 2014 Well I have no idea whether or not it will happen but I for one hope it does. Can only be a good thing for Wales and the Uk. Hopefully it will become a popular circuit with event organizers as it would be good to have some events closer to home so I can at least be more active at events. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevoD Posted September 16, 2014 Share Posted September 16, 2014 imagine If they go inderpendant we can have have a Welsh gp and a British , offtopic but speaking of which I wonder if btcc will still go knockhill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ioneabee Posted September 16, 2014 Share Posted September 16, 2014 one thing just look where it is :scare: on top of a bloody mountain for christ's sake................and what do we get a lot of on mountain tops ??? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevoD Posted September 16, 2014 Share Posted September 16, 2014 That would be awesome be like gatbil on ice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will370z Posted September 16, 2014 Share Posted September 16, 2014 This has been going for a few years now, I remember talking to one of the locals about it 2 years ago at the start of the welsh weekend in May, they all thought it was crazy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
14N Posted September 16, 2014 Share Posted September 16, 2014 They've been talking about the Circuit of Wales in the MotoGP paddock and commentary for a while now. The recent MotoGP at Silverstone was the last to be held there. Next year it will be 'coming home' to Donington and then over to Wales in 2016. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GIXXERUK Posted September 16, 2014 Share Posted September 16, 2014 Rumoured for a long time, whether it will happen is anyone's guess Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetSet Posted September 16, 2014 Share Posted September 16, 2014 Artists impression.....looks like there's limited access as presumably it's been drawn over an aerial photo. Then again Oulton Park, Silverstone and Mallory Park are in the middle of nowhere. Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harryjax Posted September 16, 2014 Share Posted September 16, 2014 one thing just look where it is :scare: on top of a bloody mountain for christ's sake................and what do we get a lot of on mountain tops ??? SHEEP!! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
14N Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 Think the name might cause some confusion. So, famous British race tracks (to name a few): Brands Hatch Silverstone Donington Park Mallory Park Oulton Park And new in Wales for 2015 is: Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch Park 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brillomaster Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 Hopefully it will go ahead - the main protesters are the enviromentalists, and other UK racetracks who don't want any competition. However speak to anyone in the local area (my fiancée's dad included) and they are all for the idea, after all that area of wales is one of the poorest parts of the country since the steelworks closed down several years ago, unemployment is very high and the promise of jobs and investment is very appealing (whether these will actually be delivered is another question). As for the location, yes it is on one of the highest points in south Wales, but its just common land out the back of an industrial estate. it has very good road links being just off the A465 Heads of Valleys road, and as such is easy to get to from Cardiff, Newport, Swansea, and Abergavenny. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ebized Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 Reminds me of Knockhill in terms of terrain - so potentially more undulating and challenging than some of the converted airfields. And given we are losing more circuits than we are gaining, so much the better a new one is on the cards 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brillomaster Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 indeed, Europe has some great purpose built circuits, which are a lot better than our old airfield based circuits. the plans for the track remind me of Portimao circuit in Portugal, or Navarra Circuit in Spain, both purpose built venues. Except without the sun and heat, obviously. But hey, Spa Francorchamps makes a name for itself with the changeable weather conditions, and it rains a lot in the valleys! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crb Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 I'd genuinly love this to happen as it's only 3 miles up the road from me. However I think the words big white elephant come to mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhackyWill Posted September 17, 2014 Author Share Posted September 17, 2014 I'd genuinly love this to happen as it's only 3 miles up the road from me. However I think the words big white elephant come to mind. What bigger than Rockingham..!!! :scare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 Is it a brilliant idea? YES Would it be of huge benefit to the area? YES Would it get the use it deserves? YES Do the locals want it? YES Is it financially viable? YES Will it ever get built? NO 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetpilot Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 I understand everyone has the right to object to any planning application and may have personal views, but sometimes you wonder how anything gets done in this country and often its no surprise when it doesnt. There are plans for a artificially generated wave just outside Bristol, i have followed the planing application with a personal interest and read most of the 2000+ comments over the time. Some of the things people have to say is frankly laughable, some of them live 100's of miles away, have never visited the area and never will, but they still dont want it going ahead, i am sure its probably the same for this possible circuit. Personally i think if they made the above 2 ideas, as an example, easier to do, there would be a great deal more investment in the country But the red tape often just isnt worth the investment needed to get through it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ebized Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 Outline Planning Permission was given in July 2013, which has established the principle. More detail here: http://www.circuitofwales.com/ And while there are all sorts of details to be approved it does seem that it not only has local support but Government as well, with funding secured involving Chinese partners. It is on a roll and whilst deregulation of Common Land, that is necessary in this case, is always a 'challenge' I do hope those pessimists ^^^^ who think it will never happen are proved wrong and noting it has been agreed with Silverstone that they do not propose to 'pinch' the Britiish F1. Remember when everyone thought Silverstone was doomed from holding the F1 and Donnington was going to get it........the pessimists were proved wrong there! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flex Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 one thing just look where it is :scare: on top of a bloody mountain for christ's sake................and what do we get a lot of on mountain tops ??? Goats? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ioneabee Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 one thing just look where it is :scare: on top of a bloody mountain for christ's sake................and what do we get a lot of on mountain tops ??? Goats? them, as well as sheep..................but i was thinking more of snow, rain, and lots and lots and lots of mist / low cloud............so its gonna be a great spectator activity. I seem to recall a TV clip of a horse race and the commentator guessing as to where the horses actually were in the mist - 'cos no-one could see a damn thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevoD Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 and that should be a problem, https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=video&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCAQtwIwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvimeo.com%2F36508253&ei=oZQZVLWoJYbD7Aao94D4Aw&usg=AFQjCNFq1jQEcklSTUROFDNcIVY7GAqhsw&sig2=f2iF3EedH34KMtghbl37EA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ioneabee Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 and that should be a problem, https://www.google.c...dH34KMtghbl37EA yep - looks like fun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brillomaster Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 well, in all fairness the motorsport season is in summer, so I cant really see it being too much of an issue... and as I say, spa francorchamps is well known for being misty/raining a lot of the time, doesn't seem to phase them. it'll just add to the drama of motorsport in wales! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.