A PAIR of brothers from Brynmawr on track for bright careers in racing say the Circuit of Wales would allow Welsh talent to emerge on an international scale.

Macaulay Austin, 17, and brother Alexander, nine, have won hundreds of competitions across the UK for their karting, but say as they have nowhere local to practice they are forced to drive miles away to their nearest race circuit.

Dad Neil Austen, 48, who owns a garage in Brynmawr, said: “The people who say they are are not happy about the idea of the circuit don’t seem to know what it would mean to the people in this area.

“If it goes ahead, the amount of jobs it would create would be massive, and if an area ever needed jobs, it's Blaenau Gwent.”

Macauley added: “It’s not just the people who would work there who would benefit. All the local businesses would benefit too as racers spend hundreds of pounds when they go to race events, and where are they going to spend that money? On local businesses. Even people coming along for a day out will stop at the garage for fuel, go to a cafe for food, snacks, everything and they all will be spending a lot of money.

“If the circuit comes to Ebbw Vale, all of Blaenau Gwent will benefit.”

At the moment when the boys want to practice, Mr Austin has to take them on a 100-mile round trip to the circuit at Llandow.

Macauley said: “There is so much talent in Wales and in this area when it comes to motorsports and the circuit would really put that Welsh talent on an international level and show off what we can do.

“Not just that, it would give other people the chance to get involved in the sport. We were lucky as we have always done karting, but not everyone has that background and this would give them the chance to get involved and see even more Welsh talent emerge.”

The boys spoke to the Argus just days after leading naturalist Iolo Williams hit out at the Circuit of Wales scheme calling it a' devastating blow' to the wildlife of Wales.

Mr Williams said no mitigation scheme could replace what will be lost and that a minister must look at the plans. He claimed it will release 10,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases through the destruction of peat moorland.

The Welsh Government is considering whether to call in the planning application for the Rassau racetrack proposal – although Natural Resources Wales has said the move is not needed.