With Speed Classic Cape Town gearing up for its inaugural hillclimb race on October 25 and 26, preparations are under way to convert Philip Kgosana drive into a safe and fully equipped racecourse capable of accommodating 150 cars and thousands of spectators for the two days.

To engender safety, Speed Classic Cape Town says it has invested heavily in infrastructure that meets the strict safety requirements of Motorsport South Africa (MSA).

More than 3.5 km of barriers will be installed along Philip Kgosana drive.

These barriers were originally manufactured for the 2023 Cape Town E-Prix and meet the safety standards set by motorsport global governing body Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA).

In addition to the barriers, over 5 km of fencing will be placed along spectator areas to ensure crowd safety.

A further 8 km of fencing will surround the broader race venue to protect drivers, spectators and the general public.

“Motorsport is a high-speed environment and spectators naturally want to get as close to the action as possible. The strict MSA and FIA guidelines ensure that we create a safe environment, something that is essential to the long-term longevity of the event,” Speed Classic Cape Town project director Steyn Momberg explains.

Support from the City of Cape Town is indicated to have been pivotal to the planning and construction of the event’s infrastructure.

Several City departments, including the Events Office, Traffic Services, Disaster Management and Fire Services, as well as the South African Police Service, are said to have played key roles in ensuring a smooth rollout.

In addition to these safety measures, Speed Classic Cape Town is also working with an independent environmental management agency to ensure the implementation of a Fire Risk Management Plan.

The plan was developed in consultation with private entities, SANParks and the City of Cape Town.

The event is also working with independent engineers on site to monitor noise pollution and ensure adherence to the sound and noise mitigation procedures.

Extensive measures have also been taken to engage local residents and stakeholders ahead of the event. “The main impacts on surrounding residents and businesses are traffic, vehicle access, and noise. We’ve launched an extensive public engagement plan to address these concerns, and overall, the response from the community has been one of strong support and excitement,” Momberg avers.

TRAFFIC CLOSURES

19-22 October between 19:00 to 05:00: Philip Kgosana drive – Outbound.

23-26 October: Philip Kgosana drive – Outbound and Inbound.

27 October: Philip Kgosana drive – Outbound.

28-30 October between 19:00 to 05:00: Philip Kgosana drive – Outbound.