Circuit of Wales is still on course to host MotoGP in September 2017, with building on the £315m circuit expected to start in October. The development of the track in Ebbw Vale moved a step forward this week as the Welsh government said it was "minded to grant" an application to allow the circuit to take over the common land.
But issues which are still outstanding must be resolved before a formal decision can be granted, and the Heads of the Valleys Development Company are confident they can start building in two months.
There was a public enquiry in March, which held up proceedings, but now the HOTVDC can focus on things including; finding replacement land to put back into the common register, and compensating the commoners for any losses, all of which is expected to be straight forward and is agreed, but just needs formalising.
Motorsport Director for the Circuit of Wales, Chris Herring told Bikesportnews.com that the delay with the public enquiry was actually quite positive as it enabled the HOTVDC to find more private investors, which they have, and the funds from the Welsh government and local authorities are 95 percent completed.
"We are just about there in terms concluding all the local authority and welsh government procedures. On Friday the Welsh government basically gave a go ahead based on agreeing everything with the commoners, which is agreed. But we need to formularise any other agreements which we hope to be straight forward and then after that we hope to be on schedule to start work in October which is always the plan," said Herring, speaking to Bikesportnews.com.
"They have retained the commoners organisation in Blaenau Gwent and the process is quite simple. For us to develop on the land we have to purchase the land from the land owner. We then have to agree with the commoners to be able to use it, and then compensate the commoners for any losses and find replacement land to put back in the common register, so that was the last process - de-registration of the common land and we needed all those elements in place to do that.
"Most things are in place. The financial side is in place but it needs legal confirmation as the legal investors have undertaken the due diligence work but until we have ownership of the land it is not a live project. Now it just about is.
"It's a public/private project but that side of it has been taken care of. I suppose the positive side of being delayed is that we were able to look into the private investors and they are ready to go, and we are 95 percent there with the government."
The build time for the project is to be between a year and a half to 22 months, with the Circuit of Wales Development Company hopeful that 6,000 jobs will be created through companies, hotels and racing academies being based there.
The Circuit of Wales has been granted hosting rights by Dorna for MotoGP in the UK for the next five years with the option for an additional five years, but next year the British GP will return to Silverstone.
Herring added: "Hopefully between 18 to 22 months build time so hopeful it will be ready in the summer of 2017 to host a race in September 2017. We are looking for the first two weeks in October to start and that's what we have discussed with the Welsh government.
"We have got an academy for youngster and technicians are going to train there - there is going to be motocross, and trials tracks, and for teams and motorsport business to be based there, and we have had a lot of interest from companies who want to be based there too."
