FIM SPEEDWAY WORLD CUP SET FOR WROCLAW RELAUNCH IN 2023

The FIM Speedway World Cup will be re-launched at Wroclaw’s iconic Olympic Stadium next summer as the popular tournament returns to the venue where the first-ever FIM SWC Final was staged from July 25-29, 2023.

As part of their 10-year vision as new FIM Speedway global promoter, Discovery Sports Events announced plans to revive the sport’s storied team event, which last took place in 2017.

Eight-time winners and reigning champions Poland will be seeded through to the FIM SWC Final on Saturday, July 29 2023 as host nation. The Semi-Finals will be contested by the other six countries in this year’s FIM Speedway of Nations Final, as well as the teams finishing fourth in each Semi-Final.

This year’s FIM SON hosts Denmark take their place in the FIM SWC Semi-Finals, along with Australia, Finland, Germany, Sweden, Czech Republic, Great Britain and France, on Tuesday, July 25 and Wednesday, July 26 2023 after earning qualification at this week’s FIM SON event in Vojens.

The winner of each FIM SWC Semi-Final will join the Poles in the Final, with the second and third-placed nations contesting the always-epic FIM SWC Race Off on Friday, July 28. The winners of that event complete the Final four.

The week will also feature an FIM SWC Fan Day on Thursday, July 27, with plenty of entertainment in the city.

Next season’s seven-team FIM SON2 event – the FIM Team Speedway Under-21 World Championship – will not be staged as part of FIM SWC week in Wroclaw. It will instead be run alongside a Speedway GP event, with the hosts yet to be confirmed.

Wroclaw’s Olympic Stadium hosted the first-ever FIM Speedway Grand Prix round in 1995, as well as the inaugural FIM SWC Final in 2001 and the first FIM Speedway of Nations Final in 2018.

François Ribeiro, head of Discovery Sports Events, is delighted to make more FIM Speedway history at one of the sport’s most famous venues.

He said: “Wroclaw hosted the FIM SWC Final in 2001 and 2005 and has an incredible history in this famous competition. We know how much fans all over the world have missed the FIM SWC and there could not be a more fitting place to bring it back.

“The Olympic Stadium has a long record of staging World Championship events and we know our local organisers in Wroclaw will work hard alongside our team to deliver an unforgettable week of racing as we crown our first FIM SWC world champions since 2017.

“We were originally due to stage the event in Torun, and we came to terms that we would sign separate agreements with the city for both Speedway GP and the FIM SWC. The City of Torun has shown great support for the many Ukrainian refugees who have sought safety there since Ukraine was invaded by Russia. As a result, the city’s population has increased, also increasing the financial pressures on the city. Torun asked if we could help them by finding alternative venue for the FIM SWC. This will allow them to concentrate on hosting a fantastic Speedway GP event.

“Wroclaw was not due to host a Speedway GP in 2023, and were delighted to organise the FIM SWC. They will be able to put all of their considerable resources and effort into making that event a great, large-scale event, welcoming fans from all over the world.

“I would like to thank the City of Wrocław and Mayor Jacek Sutryk for his continued support for FIM Speedway events and his involvement in this project to bring the FIM SWC to Wroclaw.”

Andrzej Rusko, president of host club WTS Sparta Wroclaw, looks forward to hosting a huge week of racing at the Olympic Stadium. He said: “It is a great honour to bring the FIM Speedway World Cup Final to our city for the third time – and host the first FIM SWC in its new and exciting format.

“Wroclaw is a true speedway city and we cannot wait to welcome fans from all over Poland, Europe and around the world for what I am confident will be a fantastic event.

“Poland has won the FIM SWC eight times and we know how much the competition is loved in our country. I am sure there will be a fantastic atmosphere in the Olympic Stadium stands as nine nations battle to become the first FIM SWC world champions in six years.”

Fans will not have to wait until 2022 for FIM Speedway action in Wroclaw as the Olympic Stadium hosts the 2022 Betard FIM Speedway GP of Poland – Wroclaw on Saturday, August 27, as well as making more history by staging the first-ever FIM SGP3 event – the revamped FIM Speedway Youth World Championship – on Friday, August 26.