will set the Millennium Stadium alight with entertainment
Organisers of this year’s Wales Rally GB, the UK and final round of the World Rally Championship, have announced a spectacular line-up of entertainment for a breathtaking fire and ice-themed show at this year’s Millennium Stadium stage of the event, on Saturday 6 December. There will be high speed action, acrobatics and dancing prior to the Cardiff Stage a full competitive stage of the rally which will take place on the floor of the world-class stadium, providing the perfect family outing to start the run up to Christmas.
Joining the line-up is 11 times world record holding stunt driver, Terry Grant, who will wow crowds with his daredevil motoring manoeuvres and ultimate car control. Grant is the greatest stunt performer in the business and will put spectators on the edge of their seats with his demonstration of bravery and skill.
To add to the high-octane action, organisers have enlisted the UK’s number one freestyle motorcross rider Jamie Squibb. He will perform a mouth-watering display of airborne motorcycle aerobatics, perfectly choreographed to music. His mind-blowing, no-holds barred show will leave everyone wanting more.
Capturing the spirit of the evening, the Fuel Girls, a collective of dancers and stunt artists, will wow the crowds with their sassy, fire-breathing show. The girls bring their routine, which has been performed all over the world, to Wales with the promise of getting spectators revved up prior to the competitive stage of the rally starting.
Taking advantage of the height of the indoor stadium, two acrobats will perform live, suspended from heliospheres - large balloons which will float above the stadium floor - and provide a truly mesmerising show. All of the spectacular performances will be accompanied by an innovative display of pyrotechnics and even a flurry of snow, to add to the Christmas spirit!
Following the action-packed entertainment, the main event of the evening will begin when the international rally stars enter the stadium to compete. They will be battling it out for crucial points on the penultimate day of the World Rally Championship, allowing spectators to watch, at close quarters, the much anticipated Ford vs Citroen battle.
“Wales Rally GB is set to finish the rally season off with a bang and cement its place as one of the leading sporting events in the UK,” explains Andrew Coe, chief executive of event organiser International Motor Sports Ltd. “Cardiff remains the only city to offer rally fans from across the globe the opportunity to watch an indoor stage of the Championship, so we have worked hard to put on a world-class show for all spectators. Watching rally stars compete in the Millennium Stadium is breathtaking and exhilarating in itself and the entertainment just adds to this, making sure it is a night to be remembered.
“The programme for the evening has something on offer to entertain everyone, from families to groups of friends. I can also reveal we might have more exciting news to come …so watch this space!”
The entertainment at the Millennium Stadium stage will start at 17:00 on Saturday 6 December, doors open at 16:00. With Wales Rally GB’s Kids for a quid ticket offer, those under 15 can attend from just £1 and they will receive a free gift – a set of bang sticks to use in the Stadium. Adult tickets start from just £13.
To keep up to date with news and information about Wales Rally GB visit www.walesrallygb.com or to book tickets call the booking hotline on 0844 8472251.
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New Layout for Cardiff’s indoor Special Stage in the Millennium Stadium
The Cardiff Special Stage – the worlds first and only indoor timed rally stage – is having a make-over with the intention of making it faster and even more spectacular.
Run around a specially laid out course on the floor of Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium, the 1.10 Kilometre test of speed and driver skill has remained unchanged since its introduction in 2005.
This year the Stage will retain its traditional Saturday evening slot on 6th December but will be a fraction shorter to provide longer straights and faster corners to increase speeds and sideways driving.
“It was time to redesign the stage and increase its appeal to both drivers and spectators”, said Andrew Coe, Chief Executive of Wales Rally GB. “By making the straights longer and the corners more open the cars can go quicker and the drivers can power-slide them even more than in previous years”, he added.
The Cardiff Stage starts in the stadium’s underground car park and includes a ramp which induces cars to leap onto the Stadium floor, with all four wheels off the ground for upwards of 10 meters.
Prior to the first of the expected 90 rally cars starting the competitive section at 18.00 there will be an hour of spectacular entertainment carrying the theme “Fire and Ice”. Stadium Doors open at 16.00.
Adult tickets for the Stadium start at £13 and the “Kids for a Quid” offer is detailed on the Wales Rally GB website www.walesrallygb.com
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For more information please contact Zoe Liberty or Richard Postins at Prova on 01926 776900 or email zoel@provapr.co.uk
Notes to editors:
Wales Rally GB:
Copyright-free images from the 2007 Wales Rally GB can be downloaded from; http://www.worldrallypics.com/walesrallygb/
www.walesrallygb.com is the official website and provides regular news updates and a link to copyright-free images.
Since its inception in 1932 the rally has been run 63 times; this year's event will be the 64th edition. Enforced stoppages have included World War 2, Suez Crisis (1957) and Foot and Mouth (1967).
Wales Rally GB is the British and final round of the 15-round FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). It is one of only four events that have retained their unbroken World Championship status since the WRC was established in 1973.
Cardiff first hosted the rally in 2000 and the Welsh Assembly Government has supported the event since 2003. The City and County of Swansea has provided the Service Park since 2001.
WRGB is the finale of the Tesco 99 Octane British Rally Championship (rounds six and seven) and the eighth and final round of the FIA Production World Rally Championship.
Wales Rally GB is held annually and is the UK’s biggest motor sport event. It is organised and promoted by International Motor Sports Ltd (IMS), the commercial arm of the Berkshire-based Motor Sports Association (MSA), the governing body for all UK motor sport.
For 2008 Wales Rally GB has become the first round of the World Rally Championship to offset all its carbon emissions, including all spectator travel. The event has been awarded CarbonNeutral® event status, confirming that the event’s carbon footprint is now ‘net zero’.
Access to all 19 special stages is by ticket. Buy tickets in advance for the best value for money:
by calling the ticket hotline on 0844 847 2251 online via the official website: walesrallygb.comor in person from Ticketline, 47 Westgate Street, Cardiff, CF10 1TL Details on high quality hospitality packages can be obtained from Alyson Beach at Viking Hospitality, telephone: +44 (0)2920 766661 or e-mail: hospitality@walesrallygb.com.
