A proposed race circuit in South Wales with a contract to host the MotoGP world championship has "cleared the final planning hurdle before construction can begin," according to Alan Baldwin of REUTERS. The Circuit of Wales said that Welsh National Assembly Deputy Minister for Farming & Food Rebecca Evans had "approved the de-registering of common land into private ownership." The Heads of the Valleys Development Company behind the planned £250M ($382.3M) development said that financial backers were completing due diligence, after which a "detailed construction schedule would be published." Martin Whitaker, who managed the Bahrain Int'l Circuit and has worked for the FIA and F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone, will be the circuit's CEO (REUTERS, 11/18). MOTORSPORT's Jamie Klein reported construction was "delayed by a public inquiry earlier this year," but work on the £315M ($482M) project could "now begin early next year" after HOTVDC was "finally granted permission." Evans said, "I believe the socio-economic benefits that will result from the deregistration of the common land will be of significant public benefit to both the immediate area and beyond." HOTVDC claims that the circuit will create 6,000 jobs and attract 750,000 visitors to the Ebbw Vale region of Wales a year, providing an annual injection of £50M ($76.5M) into the local economy (MOTORSPORT, 11/18). NYSE POST's Erica Roy reported HOTVDC CEO Michael Carrick said, "I am passionate about the economic and social benefits that a venue such as the Circuit of Wales will bring, and firmly believe that the time is ripe for this development not only as a fantastic entertainment and leisure center, but also as an invaluable resource for the entire British motorsport and automotive industry" (NYSE POST, 11/19).
