The Service Park will cover 30 acres of the Bay, with specially dedicated sections for teams and drivers. Brand new for this year is the Rally GB Supporters Village, which will be based in Roald Dahl Plass, directly in front of Wales Millennium Centre.
The Bay, being accessible from central Cardiff on foot, by bus or a three minute train journey, is the perfect location - meaning everyone can enjoy the atmosphere surrounding this world-class event. There will also be a shuttle running between Roald Dahl Plass and the World Rally Championship area.
In addition to the rally action, the Supporters Village will boast a café piazza, big screen showing rally footage and live times, rally merchandise stalls, as well as general entertainment and attractions for rally fans and general spectators. It is also surrounded by Mermaid Quay which holds some of Cardiff’s renowned restaurants and bars, so visitors can make their visit a day or evening-long occasion.
The new Start and Finish location in Roald Dahl Plass will be the focal point every time the rally cars arrive at and leave the Bay. In all, the competing teams will visit the famous ‘Torchwood’ setting six times the course of four days, including twice on Saturday 24th.
The Supporters Village will also host the prestigious start and finish ceremonies – where the winner of the Rally of Great Britain will be crowned. With this year’s FIA World Rally Championship possibly going down to the wire, Rally GB could prove to be the deciding round. Therefore on Sunday 25th, the Bay could be the backdrop to the crowning of the 2009 FIA World Rally Champions. Rally HQ will also be based at Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay bringing the world’s media to the area.
The Service Park will be open from 11am – 9pm Thursday 21st – Saturday 24th and from 11am – 3pm Sunday 25th. Entertainment will be provided throughout the event including films, autograph sessions, performances from precision-driver Paul Swift, and the Red Bull Matadors Air Team - something for everyone to enjoy.
Entry to the Service Park is free.
For more information about Cardiff Bay, please visit http://www.visitcardiffbay.info/ or for a map of Cardiff Bay, click here. A map of the service park is below.
Below is a timetable for the entertainment in Roald Dahl Plass:
| Thursday | |
| 11.00 | Trade Area opens to public |
| 16.50-17.10 | Samba Galez |
| 17.15-17.45 | Paul Swift Precision Driving Courtesy of Ford |
| 17.45-18.45 | Autograph Signing Session |
| 18.00-18.20 | Samba Galez |
| 18.45-19.00 | Samba Galez |
| 19.00 | Ceremonial Start |
| 21.00 | Trade Area closes to public |
| Friday | |
| 11.00 | Trade Area opens to public |
| 13.00-13.30 | Paul Swift Precision Driving Courtesy of Ford |
| 17.30-18.00 | Paul Swift Precision Driving Courtesy of Ford |
| 18.10 | Service In |
| End of day press conference on WRC stage | |
| 19.30-20.00 | WRC Crash DVD |
| 20.00 | Fireworks |
| 20.15-20.45 | Paul Swift Precision Driving Courtesy of Ford |
| 21.00 | Trade Area closes to public |
| Saturday | |
| 11.00 | Trade Area opens to public |
| 12.30-13.00 | Paul Swift Precision Driving Courtesy of Ford |
| 13.18 | Service In |
| 14.30 | Red Bull Matadors air display (subject to weather and CAA approval) |
| 15.00-15.30 | Paul Swift Precision Driving Courtesy of Ford |
| 16.00 | Film - The Italian Job |
| 18.30-19.00 | Paul Swift Precision Driving Courtesy of Ford |
| 19.27 | Service In |
| End of day press conference on WRC stage | |
| 21.00 | Trade Area closes to public |
| Sunday | |
| 11.00 | Trade Area opens to public |
| 11.00-11.30 | Paul Swift Precision Driving Courtesy of Ford |
| 12.00-12.30 | Paul Swift Precision Driving Courtesy of Ford |
| 13.00-13.30 | Paul Swift Precision Driving Courtesy of Ford |
| 13.53 | Service In |
| 14.35 | Ceremonial Finish |
| 15.00 | Trade area closes to public |
