CoW contests Donington MotoGP claims

The Circuit of Wales has contested Donington Park's claim it is unable to fund the British MotoGP round and promised the 2015 event is safe, with a Silverstone return expected.

A statement issued by Donington Park Racing Ltd. earlier on Tuesday confirmed it had terminated its deal to host the Aug. 30 event on the CoW's behalf. It claimed that the company behind the yet-to-be-built $450m Blaenau Gwent facility has been unable to "meet long-planned payment deadlines" but that has been denied by project bosses.

Donington is in the process of completing a $1.5m upgrade that includes the installation of FIA debris fencing at several corners and an extension of the Esses gravel trap to meet FIM standard. Despite that, a statement from the CoW said that it was "unwilling to provide the significant funding that DPRL required for the necessary track upgrades."

It also confirmed that the British round would remain on the MotoGP calendar this year, adding: "We have all of the funding necessary in place to promote and host the 2015 race in the UK.

"The Circuit of Wales will continue to promote the British round of the FIM MotoGP World Championship and is fully committed to delivering the event later this year."

AUTOSPORT reports that an alternative agreement has been reached for Silverstone, which lost its the rights to the British round last year, to be used an alternative venue while the CoW remains unbuilt. However, it is unclear whether the August 30 date will remain, as Silverstone is due to host the returning World Series by Renault package that weekend.

Addressing concerns over whether the CoW project itself was in jeopardy, with a public inquiry due next month, the statement added: "All funding for the flagship Circuit of Wales regeneration development in Blaenau Gwent is on track with works due to start later this year following the outcome of the public inquiry in March."

Originally on Autosport.com