CARDIFF 2023: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

Excitement is building with just two days to go until the FIM Speedway GP of Great Britain - Cardiff rocks the famous Principality Stadium this Saturday at 5pm (UK time).

Last year’s Cardiff winner Dan Bewley is bidding to top the podium for a second straight season, but he faces stiff competition from fellow home heroes, triple world champion Tai Woffinden, former European champion Robert Lambert and wild card Steve Worrall.

Triple world champion and Speedway GP series leader Bartosz Zmarzlik, world No.2 Leon Madsen of Denmark and world No.3 Maciej Janowski of Poland are all former Cardiff winners seeking to get back on top of the box.

Ahead of a great night of racing on a revamped Principality Stadium track, here’s FIMSpeedway.com’s Everything You Need to Know guide to this year’s FIM Speedway GP of Great Britain – Cardiff.

TICKETS

Online ticket sales for the FIM British Speedway GP end at midnight tonight (Thursday) – secure your place at Britain’s biggest indoor motorsport event HERE NOW.

Fans can also pick up tickets at the Principality Stadium on both Friday and Saturday. Simply visit the WRU Ticket Office, located between gates three and four, with tickets starting at £20.

All tickets for the event have been issued digitally. Please download the See Tickets app or the Principality Stadium app, available via the App Store for iOS devices or on Google Play.

Do not screenshot your tickets as this could result in them becoming invalid. 

Before arriving at the stadium, please ensure your mobile device is charged and you have transferred tickets to friends and family. Public WIFI is not available at Principality Stadium.

For any ticketing questions, please contact your point of purchase.

ENTERING THE STADIUM & OPENING CEREMONY

The Principality Stadium gates open at 3.30pm, with racing starting at 5pm, and fans are advised to arrive early to ensure a smooth entry to the venue.

Take your seats early to enjoy our spectacular opening ceremony, featuring an unmissable Speedway GP laser show, celebrating 100 years of racing. 

DJ Karl West will also take to the stage to get Principality Stadium bouncing. The Cardiff Arms Park Male Choir will then sing the Welsh and British national anthems, before 23 heats of epic Speedway GP action get underway.

Fans should avoid bringing bags if at all possible as all bags will be searched on entry and your waiting time to enter the stadium will be longer.

No bags larger than A4 (30cm X 20cm X 20cm) will be allowed into the venue.

Prohibited items include large umbrellas, professional cameras, audio or video recorders, lasers or flashlights, selfie sticks, pyrotechnics, knives, tasers, mace or glass. For the full list, please find the ground regulations here. 

FANZONE

Fans can enjoy a packed programme of entertainment ahead of the FIM Speedway GP of Great Britain – Cardiff.

Make a day of it in the heart of the Welsh capital as the fanzone gets underway at 10am UK time – around a 15-minute walk from Principality Stadium in front of Cardiff’s stunning City Hall.

Britain’s triple world champion Tai Woffinden cranks up the volume at 1.30pm with his trademark Cardiff burnout.

He then joins his fellow Monster Energy Speedway GP athletes Fredrik Lindgren, Dan Bewley, Patryk Dudek and Jack Holder for the always-popular Monster Energy Rig Riot at 1.45pm – the perfect opportunity for fans to some grab Monster Energy Speedway GP goodies.

All 18 riders competing in the FIM British Speedway GP will be taking part in the Cardiff signing session from 2.15pm. With large crowds expected, get there early to avoid disappointment, and don’t miss your chance to meet your Speedway GP favourites and grab an autograph or selfie.

We will have a special Q&A with VIP guests and former speedway stars on the main stage at 12.15pm, along with the stars of ATPI FIM Women’s Speedway Academy. 

BMX flatland star Adam Kun will be performing live in the Monster Energy Zone at 10.30am, 11.30am and 2.45pm, with the Battle Bikes stunt show also wowing fans at 11am, 12pm and 1pm.

DJ Karl West will be performing from 2.15pm to get fans pumped up for a huge night of World Championship action.

Join us at the big screen for your chance to win exclusive Speedway GP prizes and experiences in our Cardiff quizzes at 11.45am and 1.15pm. And keep an eye on the big screen for a special display marking 100 years of the sport.

Throughout the day, there will be plenty of photo opportunities. Don’t miss your chance to meet the brand-new Speedway GP mascot Speedy, who will be posing for photos with fans at 11.30am, 1.15pm and 2.15pm. Fans can also grab a picture with the Speedway GP World Championship trophy or the We Love Speedway sign.

There will be face painting for kids – and big kids – who want to show their national colours, as well as a vintage bikes exhibition.

FIM British Speedway GP nominated charity Blood Bikes Wales join us in the fanzone as they raise cash to support their vital work making crucial deliveries for the NHS, including vital blood supplies and samples, plasma, donor milk for specialist baby units and essential medication.

Fans can pick up a Cardiff memento in the Speedway GP merchandise shop and food, drink and programmes will be available for purchase.

The Cardiff fanzone closes at 3pm as the action switches to the iconic Principality Stadium.

CARDIFF FANZONE SCHEDULE (ALL TIMES UK)

·        10am: Fanzone opens

·        10am-3pm

o   Vintage bikes exhibition

o   Attractions for kids (face painting, soap balloons)

o   Speedway GP merchandise shop

o   Catering zone

o   Speedway GP trophy exhibition

·        10:30am: Adam Kun BMX Flatland Show (in Monster Zone)

·        11am: Battle Bikes Show

·        11.30am: Adam Kun BMX Flatland Show (in Monster Zone)

·        11.30am: Photo session with Speedway GP mascot Speedy

·        11.45am: Speedway GP quizzes for fans (near the big screen)

·        12pm: Battle Bikes Show

·        12.15pm: Q&A with VIP guests and former speedway stars, plus the stars of the ATPI FIM Women’s Speedway Academy

·        1pm: Battle Bikes Show

·        1.15pm: Speedway GP quizzes for fans (near the big screen)

·        1.15pm: Photo session with Speedway GP mascot Speedy

·        1.30pm: Monster Energy Burnout (with Tai Woffinden)

·        1.45pm: Monster Energy Rig Riot (with Monster Energy athletes)

·        2.15pm: Cardiff autograph session (with all 18 riders)

·        2.15pm: Music with DJ Karl West

·        2.15pm: Photo session with Speedway GP mascot Speedy

·        2.45pm: Adam Kun BMX Flatland Show (in Monster Zone)

·        3pm: Fanzone ends – time to head over to Principality Stadium

TRAVEL

PARK AND RIDE

With rail strikes scheduled for Saturday, September 2, Cardiff City Council will be operating a park and ride service for the FIM British Speedway GP.

Fans should head for County Hall car park in Cardiff Bay – exit the M4 at junction 33, travelling down the link road (A4232). The drop-off and pick-up point is Callaghan Square, with buses leaving every 10 minutes.

The price is £12, payable on the day by cash or card. The car park opens at 9am and the first bus will leave at 9.30am. The last bus from the city centre will leave at 10pm and the car park will close at 10.30pm. 

OTHER PARKING OPTIONS

Event parking is also available in Sophia Gardens at a cost of £15, payable by cash or card on the day. Exit the M4 at junction 32 and head south, following signs. The car park is open from 8am until midnight and vehicles left after closing time will be fined.

Parking is also available at the Civic Centre, also for £15, payable by cash or card on the day. Exit the M4 at junction 32 and head south on the A470. The car park is open from 8am until midnight. Coaches can park here for £30, payable in cash only on the day. 

RAIL

Travellers heading from England into Wales should be aware that strike action will affect train services on Friday, September 1 and Saturday, September 2. As a result, a reduced and revised timetable will operate across several train operators including GWR.

All fans heading to Cardiff should check the National Rail website before they travel and consider other options if at all possible.

Many parts of the GWR network will have no service at all. Services will only operate for a limited period, starting later in the morning and finishing much earlier in the evening.

Those travelling to and from Cardiff should note there will be no GWR return services on Saturday evening and customer should seek alternative means of travelling. Details can also be found on the GWR website.

Transport for Wales services are not affected by strike action, but trains between Newport, Cardiff, and Swansea are expected to be busier as a result of industrial action affecting other operators. There are no services all day between Treherbert and Pontypridd due to South Wales Metro works.

ROAD CLOSURES

A number of road closures will be in operation around the Principality Stadium on Saturday, September 2. 

Westgate Street and Wood Street, which border the stadium, will be closed in their entirety between 2.30pm and 9.30pm with the following roads also completely closed:

·      Quay Street

·      Guildhall Place

·      Golate

·      Despenser Gardens

·      Central Square

·      Scott Road

·      Havelock Street

·      Park Street

·      Wood Street (from Fitzhamon Embankment through to the St Mary Street junction of Mill Lane near Walkabout bar)

·      Tudor Street (from its junction with Clare Road)

Thanks for reading and we look forward to welcoming you to the FIM Speedway GP of Great Britain – Cardiff this Saturday!