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Circuit of Wales – new track planned in Ebbw Vale (16 posts)

Topic tags: Circuit of Wales, Ebbw Vale

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Keith Collantine said 10 months, 1 week ago:

Plans are advancing for a new motor racing circuit in South Wales. Reports indicate the planned circuit at Ebbw Vale would hold touring car-level races:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-19259596

The circuit would be built on the Rassau Industrial Estate:

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=rassau+industrial+estate&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF-8&ei=Ck4rUPHZGKml0AW2oYCwBQ&ved=0CAsQ_AUoAg

Britain is not short of racing circuits and some of them are finding it difficult to generate business so it’s debatable whether another one is needed. However the location of this track is some distance from other circuits and appears well-placed to attract visitors from Cardiff.

The planners say they have already raised £150m. Coincidentally, this is the same amount Silverstone say they need to get hold of…

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/industry/9469085/Silverstone-seeking-150m-cash-injection.html

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the_sigman said 10 months, 1 week ago:

Is there any picture of the layout?

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Keith Collantine said 10 months, 1 week ago:

Not that I’ve seen.

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NickV said 10 months, 1 week ago:

There is an artists impression at this link:

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/business-in-wales/business-news/2012/08/15/motorsports-development-could-deliver-6-000-jobs-in-blaenau-gwent-91466-31623232/

Not sure if it is the final layout though

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Keith Collantine said 10 months, 1 week ago:

I hope it is, looks decent. Bit hard to tell in places on that image though.

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ajokay said 10 months, 1 week ago:

Ahh, I read about this a little bit ago, because Gareth Jones (off the telly) was on about. Being a welshman, he was very excited.

Looks very hilly, hidden at the end of a valley, n’all.

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robk23 said 10 months, 1 week ago:

It will be good for motorsport in Wales, they don’t really have any circuits suitable for anything more than club racing, although I heard Anglesey will be improving their facilities in the future.

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Keith Collantine said 10 months, 1 week ago:

Seems they’ve got a proper website, you can see the track image here too:

http://circuitofwales.com/

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Prisoner Monkeys said 10 months, 1 week ago:

There is also talk of a similar project being built in Bali, about an hour outside the island’s capital, Denpasar.

I know which one I’d rather visit.

(Wales. I would rather visit Wales.)

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Lin1876 said 10 months, 1 week ago:

Looks very interesting, but I have just one complaint: why can’t they build something like this in the west of Scotland? Knockhill’s great, but it’s in the middle of nowhere, miles away from any major towns or cities and it’s looking a bit scruffy these days.

Plus, there’s plenty of nice land around, if any investors are reading this.

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Prisoner Monkeys said 10 months, 1 week ago:

why can’t they build something like this in the west of Scotland?

Because there is no interest, public demand, government support or finance.

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MuzzleFlash said 10 months ago:

@Lin1876 Google maps says Knockhill is only 20 miles from Edinburgh, 40 from Glasgow? :S

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Lin1876 said 10 months ago:

@prisoner-monkeys Always the issues. Pity.

@muzzleflash It always feels longer though, probably because the motorways end as soon as you get into Fife. The Clackmananshire bridge has helped though, because Kirkardine used to get really crowded if there was a big event, especially if there was a Dunfermline football match on at the same time.

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Keith Collantine said 10 months ago:

@Lin1876 I think this could be the first mention of Dunfermline – where I used to live and made regular trips to Knockhill from – on F1 Fanatic.

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Keith Collantine said 8 months ago:

The proposal got a mention in parliament yesterday:

Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent) (Lab): The proposed motor sport investment in Ebbw Vale could be an employment game-changer for Blaenau Gwent. Variable investment allowances are being sought by the international development. I urge the Secretary of State to get the Treasury on board now for a fair tax treatment to help deliver the project.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmhansrd/cm121017/debtext/121017-0001.htm#12101758003554

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