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."
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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.
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