Inquiry into potential British MotoGP venue Circuit of Wales begins

The 10-day inquiry will assess the project's request last September to deregister 250 hectares of common land in south Wales, where the circuit and additional facilities would be built.

It will end on March 20, with the planning inspector then due to make his recommendation to senior government ministers.

A final decision on the application is not expected until June, though it could take until September, and development cannot take place unless it is approved.

Supporters of the Circuit of Wales gathered outside Blaenau Gwent council offices earlier on Tuesday, and Heads of the Valleys Development Company chief executive Michael Carrick reiterated his confidence in the project despite a serious of setbacks.

"Five years ago, we were first attracted to Blaenau Gwent due to the opportunity for regeneration and this has not changed," he said in a statement.

"The development will help to regenerate the region through creating thousands of employment opportunities and attracting further investment into the local economy.

"The public inquiry is the next and final step before we can move towards the construction phase."

Due to the continued delay in securing the planning permissions for the Circuit of Wales, Silverstone has been tasked with hosting the British MotoGP round in 2015 and '16.

Donington Park had initially been chosen to run the event on the CoW's behalf, but announced last month it had severed its ties with the project.