Circuit of Wales bosses ‘deciding on next course of action’

Circuit of Wales chief executive Martin Whittaker says he and his team are considering their next course of action after the Welsh Government today rejected their latest funding proposal and admitted that they were now instead pushing ahead with alternate plans for the redevelopment of the region.

Believed to have been caught by surprise by today’s decision against them, Whittaker said in a short statement that he and his team would regroup before deciding on their next move.

“Along with my team and commercial partners, I am hugely disappointed and saddened that the Welsh Government has today failed to support The Circuit of Wales, what would be a game changing development for Wales and in particular the people of Blaenau Gwent. We strongly disagree with the decision and the rationale behind it.

“My team and I will now analyse the Welsh Government’s reasons not to support the development and are actively seeking additional clarification from them. We will then very shortly issue a detailed response before deciding on our next course of action.”

However, with cabinet secretary Ken Skates saying that their due diligence work showed that plans for the creation of some 6000 jobs was in reality more likely to create 100 and that they will now push ahead to build a business park on the site, it remains to be seen whether the project can be salvaged in it’s current form.

There may be repercussions involved for the future of the British Grand Prix, though, with the Circuit of Wales currently holding the contract to organise the event this year and until 2019, through a hosting agreement with Silverstone.