A historic comeback: Speed Classic Cape Town returns after 60 years
The event, backed by Motorsport South Africa and the City of Cape Town, marks the revival of competitive hillclimb racing in Cape Town – a tradition that began in 1912, with races held on Camps Bay Drive, Signal Hill Road, and Kloof Road. The last known hillclimb on Camps Bay Drive was in 1962.
Co-founder Garth Mackintosh explains, "We're not just creating another motorsport event. We're building a celebration of legacy, innovation, and craftsmanship."
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Speed Classic Cape Town (@speedclassic.capetown)
The event includes two competitions:
Classic Car Saturday (25 October): Highlighting vintage cars and classic engineering.
King of the Mountain (26 October): Modern performance cars competing over 2.1km of winding road with a 150-meter climb.
Attendees can also expect demonstration runs, local food vendors, hospitality lounges, and a range of activities.
Event details:
Dates: 25 and 26 October 2025
Location: Philip Kgosana Drive, Gardens
Good to know: Applications for drivers close on 15 August, with tickets available for purchase from 1 August.
Motorsport's Moment in South Africa
The return of the Speed Classic isn't just a nostalgic revival, but part of an accelerated focus on local motorsport events to feature on the international racing calendar.
Cape Town has already hosted the inaugural Cape Town E‑Prix in 2023 with a high-speed street circuit weaving through the city's Atlantic Seaboard suburbs of Green Point, Granger Bay, and Mouille Point.
Most notably, South Africa is in the midst of a high-stakes bid to bring Formula 1 back home for the first time in over three decades. The Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture has tabled its ambitious proposal for a Cape Town street circuit that would run through the inner city and the V&A Waterfront.
Meanwhile, Kyalami, the historic circuit near Johannesburg, has received FIA approval for a Grade 1 upgrade - further clearing the path for an F1 comeback. Critics argue that hosting F1 in South Africa is a costly luxury in a country facing pressing socio-economic challenges, with concerns around funding transparency and public benefit.
However, Minister Gayton McKenzie stated South Africa "can't afford to host Formula 1." He drew a parallel to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which showcased the country's ability to successfully host a major global event and left a lasting economic and reputational legacy.
He urged critics to consider the fierce competition among nations to remain on the F1 calendar - proof, he said, of the sport's undeniable value.
'It can't be called a world championship if it overlooks an entire continent - especially sub-Saharan Africa,' McKenzie added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
43 minutes ago
- Metro
Anthony Joshua reveals plan to retire from boxing
Anthony Joshua has suggested that he will retire from boxing this year. The 35-year-old has not fought since he was knocked out by Daniel Dubois in the fifth round at Wembley last September. Joshua required elbow surgery after his defeat to Dubois and the two-time unified heavyweight champion does not have another opponent lined up, although his promoter, Eddie Hearn, has held talks over a possible fight with YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul. Boxing fans are also holding out hope of Joshua finally facing Tyson Fury, who announced his retirement from boxing in January after his rematch defeat to Oleksandr Usyk the previous month. However, in a post on Instagram on Friday night, Joshua paid tribute to his promotional team Matchroom Boxing, who have managed him since his professional debut in 2013, but said his 'last punch' will be thrown this year. 'Shout to Matchroom Boxing for all you have done for me and continue to do for me,' Joshua wrote. 'Long may you reign supreme and keep giving fighters opportunities to become champions and make boxing great. '12 years ago, I signed with you and 12 years later I will throw my last punch with you. 'Royalty and loyalty is a perfect match for the great good. A toast to another 100 years of Matchroom Boxing 'And to finish on this… If I could start from scratch, I wouldn't change shit.' Speaking after Usyk's dominant victory over Dubois last Saturday, Hearn revealed that Joshua would agree to a fight with Paul. 'It sounds like AJ is going to fight Jake Paul. If he's [Paul] true to his word, the fight will happen,' Hearn said in an interview with The Stomping Ground. 'It's great that Tyson Fury is saying that Jake Paul is going to win. 'I mean, maybe I've just lost my mind but if they truly want that fight, I reached out to Nakisa [Bidarian, co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions] earlier and we're going to have a chat next week. 'If they truly want the fight we can make, actually, the fight that does the biggest numbers in the sport. Forget Canelo vs Terence Crawford that doesn't even touch the surface of – and I can't believe I'm saying it – of AJ against Jake Paul. 'If you want to do the biggest numbers in the sport we'll make it happen but please, be careful what you wish for. 'This isn't a game, this isn't a YouTube video, this isn't numbers, this isn't algorithms, this is physically dangerous. So if you want to do it, be careful. But we will do it. More Trending 'We've always said, 'yeah of course we do it', but I just didn't think anyone would even give it the credibility. 'I'm not going to argue about it. I'm just telling you and I'm telling Jake Paul, this is very dangerous. So if you're for real, just understand the consequences that come with a fight like this. 'Ask Francis Ngannou who, in my opinion, would destroy Jake Paul. 'But good luck to the man, if you're game and you want to roll the dice, we're ready.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Daniel Dubois house party video emerges after Oleksandr Usyk defeat MORE: Who's next for Oleksandr Usyk? Joseph Parker could get his shot but a third fight with Tyson Fury cannot be ruled out MORE: Not Joshua or Fury – Lennox Lewis names only man who can beat Oleksandr Usyk
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Red Bull keen to turn down the noise without Christian Horner - as new boss Laurent Mekies vows to steer clear of controversy
Laurent Mekies was there early on the press conference sofa in Christian Horner 's old seat. He smiled broadly like the chat who had got the creme, which in a sense he has. The Frenchman was fluent — no Inspector Clouseau here. He was nimble of mind, and betrayed no nerves, on his media debut as Red Bull's new team principal — though admitted he prevaricated when offered the job. He was hardly controversial or duelling with his rivals down the garages, mind. He was not trying to pass himself off as a Horner tribute act. Indeed, perhaps his most revealing comment was an intention to reduce 'that noise from outside'. A dig at Horner? No, more likely a reflection of the brief outlined to him by Red Bull's Austrian Burgermeisters, from owner Mark Mateschitz down, on taking up his promotion from the stable's junior team Racing Bulls a fortnight ago, when Horner was fired without explanation. However, Mekies, a 48-year-old engineer, was bold enough to make this declaration ahead of Sunday's rain-threatened Belgian Grand Prix: 'I don't think anyone doubts what Red Bull is here to do: short-term, mid-term, long-term, it is to fight for wins and world championships. That is the mission statement.' He added: 'I have spoken (to Horner) and he has been nothing but supportive, even in the extremely difficult context for him. He was the first one to text, the first one to call, and even yesterday (Thursday), or this morning (Friday), we texted each other again. 'So, he has been nothing short of supportive which has been impressive. Nobody is going to replace his character or be a like-for-like replacement. 'Red Bull have been showing season after season they are the best in the world, and if they are not the best they are very close.' For the past couple of years in his Racing Bulls incarnation, Mekies has barely fielded a question at press conferences, but here he attracted minimally 85 per cent of the inquiries. Mekies was not told why Horner was axed. 'No,' he confirmed. 'We didn't get into the whys and why nots. But the objectives for the team were outlined. 'I got a call from Oliver (Mintzlaff, head of the division of Red Bull's parent company responsible for Formula One) and Helmut (Marko, the company's motorsport adviser) and they asked if I would be interested in the job. 'It came out of the blue. I asked if I could think about it for a few hours and I hung up the phone. 'It is difficult to digest but the first thing that comes into your mind is, well, wait a second, this is Red Bull, and they are asking you to step into that job. So you pick up the phone, and you say, 'Of course, it is an honour and a privilege'.' Before McLaren's Oscar Piastri took a dominant pole for Saturday's sprint race, Horner's old sparring partner Toto Wolff prowled the paddock, a lone Wolff now. 'He was controversial, polarising and not soft-washed,' said the Austrian of his departed adversary. Each used the other's wind-ups as a fire-lighter for his team. 'He was good from the entertainment factor, and from that perspective he will be missed. His track record speaks for itself. 'I don't think he's gone for ever. He could pop up in some other function. I need to be careful — he could rock up in the FIA. Then I'm really in the s***.'
Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Cadillac have chosen the two F1 stars they want to sign for 2026
Team principal Graeme Lowdon is said to have settled on the two Formula 1 drivers he wants to sign for Cadillac ahead of their debut season in the sport next year Formula 1 newbies Cadillac are said to have decided which drivers they want to lead their charge on track in their debut season. The American outfit will become the sport's 11th team when it debuts next March at the 2026 Australian Grand Prix. With just one year to get everything in place, team principal Graeme Lowdon has plenty on his plate from hiring staff to setting up manufacturing processes and designing their first ever F1 car. Plus, of course, he must hire two drivers to get behind the wheel of those machines next season. During a recent podcast appearance, Lowdon offered seven names as he shed some light on the decision process. Mick Schumacher, Valtteri Bottas, Sergio Perez, Felipe Drugovich, Frederik Vesti, Arvid Lindblad and Colton Herta were the drivers he mentioned as he discussed Cadillac's options. And it appears he has narrowed down his options further by choosing his two preferred driver options. Lowdon told Mirror Sport earlier this month that he would prefer "experienced" options and he seems to have stuck to that. Speaking on F1 TV ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix, correspondent Lawrence Barretto was speaking about the situation of Bottas who is a man in demand. Back at Mercedes as a reserve this year after losing his Sauber race seat, the Finn is wanted by Alpine but also seems to be a leading candidate for Cadillac. "The more likely landing spot for him is Cadillac," said Barretto, who also revealed the name of the other driver in pole position for a seat. "I hear that they haven't got any contracts done, not even any ahead of terms, but Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas are the two drivers that they want at that team. "It's just a case of them going through the motions with it. It might be some time until we find that out. Obviously, there is still some time for that to change, but that's where we're looking I think. "That's where I think it's going, which makes sense because Valtteri could maybe use the Alpine interest to maybe get a better deal. They want experience, and those two drivers offer that in bags." Both drivers are multi-race winners throughout their long F1 careers. Bottas won 10 races over five seasons as team-mate to Lewis Hamilton during his first spell with Mercedes, while Perez is a six-time race winner himself, five with Red Bull after his maiden success while still at Racing Point. Should Cadillac end up contracting those two racers, it will be a tough pill to swallow for Zhou Guanyu. The Chinese racer, now reserve at Ferrari, is also looking for a way back onto the grid and may have been expecting to be a front-runner, given Lowdon was previously a member of his management team.
