Hillclimb Racing Returns to Cape Town After Six Decades with Speed Classic 2025

For the first time since 1962, hillclimb racing will return to Cape Town. Backed by the City of Cape Town and Motorsport South Africa, Speed Classic Cape Town is set to revive this century-old tradition on 25 and 26 October 2025, transforming Philip Kgosana Drive into a thrilling 1.8km racetrack.

First held in 1912, Cape Town’s hillclimb races became a much-loved spectacle, with events on Camps Bay Drive, Signal Hill Road, and Kloof Road.

Historic highlights include a 1936 Bugatti Type 59 completing the Camps Bay course in just 53.4 seconds. After WWII interruptions, racing continued until 1962, when safety concerns and rising traffic silenced the engines.

Now, more than six decades later, the roar returns.

What to Expect at Speed Classic 2025

The weekend will feature nearly 150 classic and modern cars, promising speed, spectacle, and nostalgia against the backdrop of Table Mountain.

• Saturday, 25 October – Classic Car Saturday
  A showcase of motoring’s most elegant icons, celebrating timeless design and engineering.
• Sunday, 26 October – King of the Mountain
  High-performance cars and modern supercars battle for the crown in a head-to-head hillclimb showdown.

Event Director Garth Mackintosh explains the choice of venue:
“Philip Kgosana Drive is iconic and beautiful, with sweeping corners and a return road ideal for hillclimb racing. It’s the perfect stage to bring this tradition back to Cape Town.”

Safety First

Unlike the early days — when drivers raced without helmets, fireproof suits or barriers — modern safety standards are front and centre. The course will be lined with Formula E-grade barriers, and the City of Cape Town’s Traffic and Disaster Management teams will be fully involved in ensuring the safety of competitors and spectators.

Event Details

• Name: Speed Classic Cape Town
• Dates: 25–26 October 2025
• Venue: Philip Kgosana Drive, Gardens, Cape Town
• Course Length: 1.8 km
• Elevation Gain: 150.1 m

A New Era for South African Motorsport

With its mix of heritage and high-octane spectacle, Speed Classic Cape Town aims to cement itself as a fixture in South Africa’s motorsport calendar. For fans, it’s not just about watching cars race — it’s about being part of a living tradition reborn.