Speed Classic Cape Town delivers a weekend of pure adrenaline beneath Table Mountain

Franco Scribante in his purpose-built Nissan R35 GTR Skyline.
PHOTO CREDIT: Slipstream SA

Beneath the shadow of Table Mountain, Cape Town roared back to life. The inaugural Speed Classic Cape Town wasn’t just a race — it was a resurrection. Over one unforgettable weekend, history and horsepower collided as the city’s most scenic stretch of tarmac, Philip Kgosana Drive, became a 1.8-kilometre battleground of sound, smoke, and speed, reigniting a motorsport spirit dormant for more than half a century.

For two days, history met horsepower as classic icons and purpose-built monsters raced against time beneath one of the 7 Wonders of Nature – Table Mountain. Saturday’s curtain-raiser delivered a mechanical symphony that felt both nostalgic and daringly alive. Nearly seventy classic and historic cars — from pre-war racers to snarling 1970s single-seaters — attacked the twisting ascent with engines screaming and tyres clawing for grip. The crowd lining the route erupted with every launch.

A classic 1930 4.5 litre LeMans Bentley in action.
PHOTO CREDIT: Slipstream SA

At the sharp end, Charles Arton emerged as the man to beat. Behind the wheel of his 1979 March 79A Formula Atlantic, he produced a stunning 40.143-second run to claim the inaugural Classic Champion title. “Beyond expectations is the simple answer for today,” Arton said afterwards, visibly emotional. “I am extremely proud to be the first Classic Champion at Speed Classic Cape Town. There’s a lot of pressure in an event like this, so when it all comes together, it’s pure joy.”

Hot on his heels, Franco Scribante clocked a 40.362 in his Chevron B19, while James Temple’s Shelby Daytona Coupe completed the podium on 43.245. For event director Garth Mackintosh, watching priceless cars being driven in anger was a dream realised. “We witnessed motorsport jewellery out on track today,” he said. “It’s rare to see cars of this calibre being pushed like that — it was absolutely special.”

A Ferrari 458 Speciale attacking the 1.8km hillclimb at Speed Classic Cape Town.
PHOTO CREDIT: Slipstream SA

If Saturday celebrated heritage and craftsmanship, Sunday was a full-throttle demonstration of modern performance. The hill echoed with the roar of nearly eighty supercars and race-bred hillclimb machines — Ferraris, McLarens, Lamborghinis, and turbocharged saloon cars with over a thousand horsepower — hurtling toward the summit at nearly 240 km/h. The battle for the first King of the Mountain title came down to sheer nerve and precision.

Franco Scribante, determined to make up for his near miss the day before, found redemption in spectacular fashion. Piloting his Nissan GT-R R35, he dug deep in the final shootout to post a blistering 35.260 seconds — just 0.599 clear of Reghard Roets, also in a GT-R. Dawie Joubert, in a nimble Lotus Exige nicknamed Lotari, rounded out the top three with a 37.407. “We were absolutely nowhere earlier in the day,” Scribante said. “I knew we’d have to dig deep. It was a miracle that it all came together in the final run. I can’t wait to be back again next year.”

There was heartbreak for Pieter Zeelie, who had dominated the timesheets before a faulty start ended his hopes.

Enzo Kuun, race director for Speed Classic Cape Town, described the course as “one of the most scenic tracks in the world,” saying, “To race with Table Mountain to my right, the Atlantic Ocean to my left and Lion’s Head behind me was an absolute privilege and epic experience.”

By the end of the weekend, Speed Classic Cape Town had drawn close to 15,000 spectators to the mountain and more than 180,000 online. The event ran under Motorsport South Africa sanctioning, with full safety and logistics support from Volvo Car South Africa — whose XC90s and all-electric EX30s served as official safety and support vehicles.

It wasn’t just a motorsport event — it was the rebirth of one. The last major city hillclimb on Cape Town’s roads was more than sixty years ago, and organisers knew they were reviving a legacy as much as launching something new. As the final cars rolled into parc fermé, Mackintosh looked across the mountain road, satisfied. “To see our vision come to life has been incredible,” he said. “This was only the beginning. From here, we can only grow stronger.”

"I will never wash this hand," the kids shouted when getting to slap the hand of the drivers returning to the pits.
PHOTO CREDIT: Slipstream SA

Moments were captured, and memories were made, as Speed Classic Cape Town etched itself into local motorsport folklore — an event destined to be remembered as one of those “I was there” moments. And when the engines finally fell silent, the city seemed to exhale. The mountain stood calm once again, watching over a weekend that redefined what motorsport in South Africa could look like.. The names of Arton and Scribante no etched in the record books — the first champions of an event that already feels destined to become a Cape Town classic. 

CAPE TOWN’S STREETS SET TO IGNITE THIS OCTOBER WITH THE INAUGURAL SPEED CLASSIC!

Speed Classic Cape Town launch event display. 
PHOTO CREDIT: Junaid Samodien - Slipstream SA

Cape Town, buckle up – because this October, Philip Kgosana Drive isn’t just a scenic road… it’s turning into a battleground of horsepower, heritage, and pure high-octane glory!

On 25 and 26 October, the Speed Classic Cape Town roars into life for the very first time, unleashing a thrilling hill climb race that fuses motoring heritage, modern muscle, and elite lifestyle experiences — all set against the iconic backdrop of the Mother City.

As the Mother City gears up for this landmark event, anticipation is already reaching fever pitch. Geordin Hill-Lewis, the Executive Mayor for the City of Cape Town has thrown his full support behind the race, describing it as a potential flagship event for Cape Town that could attract global attention and bring motorsport lovers from around the world to our shores. And with just weeks to go, Event Director Garth Mackintosh says the excitement is tangible as final preparations are made to deliver a world-class spectacle.

The action kicks off on Saturday, 25 October, when Philip Kgosana Dr. plays host to some of the most valuable and iconic classic cars ever built. These aren't museum pieces — these are rare machines being brought to life at speed, on the open road, in front of thousands of spectators. Among the head-turners, Stuart Mackay-Davidson will be driving a 1980 Ferrari 308 GTB, one of only five in the country. Harry Tayler will command the only known 1930 Bentley 4.5L Le Mans in South Africa. Charles Arton brings his 1979 March 79A, a rare Formula Atlantic race car built specifically for South African competition.

South African hillclimb and racing icon Franco Scribante will be present, and is set to pilot the South African 6 hours winning 1970 Chevron B19 — a true endurance prototype, and one of only 30 ever made. He’ll be joined by Silvio Scribante in a 1970s Ford Capri Perana, a uniquely South African muscle car born from the genius of Basil Green in partnership with Ford, with fewer than 100 remaining worldwide. Adding an international edge, Swiss drivers Serge Endress and Matthias Annefield will take part, piloting a 1965 Lola T70 Spyder and a 1971 Capri Perana respectively.

But the star power doesn’t stop there. Former Formula 1 driver and 1988 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Jan Lammers will be on the grid on Saturday, adding serious international pedigree to an already elite line-up. 

For Race Director Enzo Kuun, the presence of such historic vehicles is more than just nostalgia — it’s about reviving history. “Classic cars are like art, and you just cannot replace them. They were designed in a bygone era and have become collectors’ items,” he said. “What makes the Speed Classic Cape town so special is that on Classic Car Saturday we are bringing these cars out of collections and onto the track, and are inviting collectors to showcase their cars.”

HillClimb route supplied by Speed Classic Cape Town.

On Sunday, 26 October, the tempo rises as modern supercars, GT monsters, and single-seater rockets face off in a no-holds-barred battle for supremacy in the King of the Mountain showdown. Expect to see some of the fastest machines in the country — and the world — scream up the hill. Among them, Farouk Dangor’s ultra-rare Ferrari SF90 Stradale, one of only eleven in South Africa and capable of 0-100km/h in just 2.5 seconds. Greg Parton brings his Lamborghini Aventador, a naturally aspirated V12 beast that defines the word “supercar.” Pieter Zeelie will charge the hill in his Toyota MR2 Super GT, fresh off a King of the Hill title at Simola 2025. Dawie Joubert arrives with his ferocious Lotus Exige, fitted with a twin-turbo Ferrari V8 engine — a street-legal missile that’s as outrageous as it sounds. Franco Scribante returns on Sunday in his monstrous 1,500-horsepower Nissan GTR, nicknamed “The Sheriff,” which took the Simola crown in 2023. Marcel Angel brings serious GT firepower with his Ferrari 488 GT3, a championship-winning machine that’s competed across Europe. Byron Mitchell will push the limits in a Reynard Formula VW, a former German F3 car that earned him the Simola 2025 single-seater title. And making history of his own, Connor Kilbride will drive the ultra-light Ligier JS53 Evo2 — a prototype racer never before documented in South African hill climb events.

With speeds that these beasts are set to reach, safety is paramount. Speed Classic Cape Town Project Director Steyn Momberg confirms that the event is fully certified by Motorsport South Africa, and the same elite-level safety infrastructure used for Formula E has been put in place — including barriers, catch fencing, and Cape Town’s top disaster management team. “We’ve built this event to world-class standards. We’re not cutting corners. We’re raising the bar,” he said.

Beasts among us - Ford GT40 [left], McLaren 720S, Cobra [replica] and a rare Ford Mustang Dark Horse.
PHOTO CREDIT: Junaid Samodien - Slipstream SA. 

But Speed Classic Cape Town is more than a race. It’s a lifestyle experience built for the whole city. From exclusive hospitality zones and grandstands with sweeping views, to a bustling race village filled with food stalls, brand activations, live screens, and kids' zones, it’s designed to thrill petrolheads, families, and curious newcomers alike. This is more than motorsport — it’s Cape Town’s newest destination event.

The countdown is on. The engines are ready. The mountain is waiting. This is Speed Classic Cape Town, so grab your tickets right now, because it’s going to be unforgettable!