Killarney International Raceway
Killarney is Cape Town’s home of motorsport: a club-run complex in the northern suburbs where people have been racing since 1947, with Table Mountain filling the skyline. Stirling Moss won a Grand Prix here, World Rallycross visited from 2017 to 2023, and on any given weekend you’re just as likely to find club racers, motorcycles, drag cars or a track day. Here’s the name, the history, how the circuit works, the records, what races there and how to visit.
Killarney at a Glance
Length 3.267 km / 2.030 mi the Grand Prix circuit, same length since 1960
Racing since 1947 sprints on a disused road before the first circuit opened in 1951
Current circuit December 1960 designed by Edgar Hoal and revised several times since
Location & operator Table View, Cape Town run by the Western Province Motor Club (WPMC)
Facilities Circuit, drags and more drag strip, kart track, motocross, oval and skid pan
Race lap record 1:08.100 Ian Scheckter, Lotus 72, 1974
Killarney International Raceway or the Killarney Motor Racing Complex?
Both, and locals just say “Killarney.” Killarney International Raceway is the name on the gate and the one you’ll hear for the circuit itself. Killarney Motor Racing Complex is the name for the whole site, because the circuit is only one part of it: there’s also a drag strip, a kart track, motocross and supermoto tracks, an oval for stock cars and a skid pan.
The track is run by the Western Province Motor Club (WPMC), a members’ club rather than a commercial operator. That club feel is a big part of Killarney’s character: it’s where Cape Town racers start out, and where a lot of them keep racing for decades.
Killarney History
Killarney grew the way a lot of club circuits did: a few enthusiasts racing on an old road, then a short track, then a longer one. By 1960 it had a full Grand Prix circuit and was hosting the non-championship Cape Grand Prix with some of the biggest names in Formula 1. Those days didn’t last, but the club racing never stopped, and World Rallycross put Killarney back on international TV in the 2010s and 2020s.
- 1947 Racing starts with sprints on a disused road, organized by the Metropolitan Motorcycle & Car Club, known as “the Mets.”
- 1950–51 The club buys 51 hectares of land and opens its first circuit, about 1 km long.
- 1952 The track is extended to 1.65 km, adding the Big Sweep.
- 1954 Another extension takes the lap to 2.687 km.
- 1960 The current Grand Prix circuit, designed by Edgar Hoal, opens in December. On December 17, Stirling Moss wins the Cape Grand Prix in a Porsche, ahead of Jo Bonnier.
- 1962 Trevor Taylor wins the Cape Grand Prix in a Lotus on January 2 after Jim Clark spins at Malmesbury.
- 1974 Ian Scheckter sets the circuit’s outright lap record, 1:08.100, in a Lotus 72 Formula 1 car.
- 1990–2008 The circuit is revised several times, but the lap stays the same 3.267 km.
- 2017 The FIA World Rallycross Championship comes to Killarney. Johan Kristoffersson wins, and wins again in 2018.
- 2019 Niclas Grönholm wins the World RX of South Africa.
- 2023 World RX returns for a double-header in October, won by Kristoffersson and Timo Scheider. The circuit also receives a heritage blue plaque on its 76th anniversary.
- 2024 South Africa drops off the World RX calendar.
- 2026 Lance Jonas takes over as WPMC chairperson in April, and a Cape Grand Prix Revival for early-1960s Grand Prix cars is announced for February 2027.
One Complex, Every Kind of Racing
What makes Killarney different isn’t a single corner, it’s the variety. Very few tracks pack this much into one site. On a single weekend you can watch saloon cars and superbikes on the circuit, then wander over to the drag strip or the kart track, and the club’s “multiplex” days put several disciplines on one ticket.
3.267 km
Grand Prix circuit
The main track, used for club racing, motorcycles, track days and visiting national series.
1.060 km
Rallycross layout
The mixed tarmac-and-dirt layout built for World RX, using part of the main circuit.
6+
Ways to race
Circuit, drag strip, karting, motocross and supermoto, an oval for stock cars, and a skid pan.
Then there’s the view. Table Mountain sits right across the skyline from most of the circuit, which gives Killarney a backdrop photographers love, and was a big reason World Rallycross TV coverage looked the way it did.
Killarney Track Guide: Layouts and Corners
Killarney is a flat, open circuit, which means good sightlines from the spectator areas and plenty of wind off the coast. Rather than a turn-by-turn lap, here are the layouts and the named corners you’ll hear about from drivers and commentators. The map shows the rallycross layout used for World RX; the dark sections are the tarmac it shares with the main circuit.
3.267 km
The Grand Prix circuit
The full circuit has kept the same lap length since it opened in 1960, through revisions in 1990, 1996, 2004 and 2008. It’s a flat, open track with long straights and a mix of fast and slow corners.
Malmesbury
Malmesbury
A fast double left-hander, and one of the corners drivers talk about most. It’s where Jim Clark spun while leading the 1962 Cape Grand Prix.
Cape Town
Cape Town Corner
One of the named corners on the lap. Older maps also show sponsor names for some turns, which have changed over the years.
Tower Bend
Tower Bend
Another of the circuit’s traditional named corners.
1952
The Big Sweep
A long, fast curve that dates back to the 1952 extension of the original circuit, one of the oldest parts of the track still in use.
Bikes
Motorcycle chicane
Turn 9 can be turned into a chicane for motorcycle racing, to slow the bikes down.
1.060 km
Rallycross layout
The short World RX layout mixes tarmac from the main circuit with dirt sections. It’s the one shown on the map above.
Drags
Drag strip
A separate straight for drag racing, used for the Wednesday-night “Robot Racing” sessions and the bigger drag events.
Killarney Lap Records
Killarney’s outright record dates back to the days when South Africa had its own Formula 1 championship, and nothing since has come close. The class records below are the ones most often quoted for the full 3.267 km circuit; newer marks may have been set in club classes, so check with the WPMC for the latest list.
1:08.100
Outright lap record
Ian Scheckter set it in a Lotus 72 Formula 1 car at the 1974 False Bay 100, and it has stood for more than 50 years.
1:13.600
Group 6 sports cars
John Watson’s lap in a Chevron B26 in 1973.
1:15.426
GTC touring cars
Saood Variawa’s lap in a Toyota Corolla in 2022.
1:18.326
SupaCup
Bradley Liebenberg’s lap in a Volkswagen Polo in 2023.
Races and Events at Killarney
Killarney’s calendar is busy and mostly local: club racing, motorcycles, drags, endurance races and festivals. The National Extreme Festival usually visits twice a year, there’s a Cape Endurance meeting in December, and the Killarney Motor Show fills the site once a year. If you want the big-league South African experience, our Kyalami guide covers the country’s Grand Prix circuit near Johannesburg.
Year-round
Killarney Power Series
Club racing Western Cape
The backbone of the calendar: around nine rounds a year with up to about 18 races a day, covering saloons, sports cars, single-seaters and motorcycles. It’s the easiest way to see Killarney at full speed.
February 2027
Historic racing and the Cape Grand Prix Revival
Historic racing Classic cars
Classic cars are a big part of Killarney life. The AG Capital Cape Grand Prix Revival on February 6–7, 2027 brings early-1960s Grand Prix cars back to the track that hosted the Cape Grand Prix.
2017–2023
World RX of South Africa
World Rallycross FIA
Killarney hosted rounds of the FIA World Rallycross Championship in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2023, with Johan Kristoffersson winning three times. South Africa hasn’t been on the World RX calendar since 2024.
Killarney Race Calendar: 2026 and 2027
Killarney runs something most weekends, plus drag nights during the week, so treat this as the highlights. Dates marked TBA haven’t been announced yet; the WPMC publishes its full calendar, and it’s worth checking it before you go.
2026 season
| Dates | Event | Series | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan–Oct | Killarney Power Series, earlier rounds | Club racing | Done |
| Nov 1 | Killarney Motor Show | Car show | Upcoming |
| Nov 13–14 | Killarney Power Series | Club racing | Upcoming |
| Dec 11–12 | Cape Endurance, with an 8-hour 150cc motorcycle race | Endurance racing | Upcoming |
2027 season
| Dates | Event | Series | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 6–7 | AG Capital Cape Grand Prix Revival | Historic racing (early-1960s Grand Prix cars) | Upcoming |
| TBA | Killarney Power Series rounds | Club racing | Date TBA |
| TBA | National Extreme Festival | National racing | Date TBA |
Killarney Weather by Season
Cape Town has a Mediterranean climate: dry, windy summers and cool, wet winters, with the seasons flipped from North America and Europe. The figures below are 1991–2020 averages for Cape Town International Airport from the South African Weather Service.
26–27°C / 79–81°F
Summer · Dec–Feb
Warm and dry, with highs of 26–27°C (79–81°F), lows around 16–17°C (61–63°F) and only about 10–13 mm (0.4–0.5 in) of rain a month. The catch is the strong south-easter wind, so bring a jacket for late afternoons.
21–26°C / 70–79°F
Autumn · Mar–May
Highs fall from about 26°C (79°F) in March to 21°C (70°F) in May, and rain picks up from 13 mm (0.5 in) to 61 mm (2.4 in). March is one of the nicest months to watch racing here.
18°C / 64°F
Winter · Jun–Aug
Cool and wet: highs of about 18°C (64°F), lows of 7–8°C (45–46°F) and 72–92 mm (2.8–3.6 in) of rain a month, usually arriving with cold fronts.
20–24°C / 68–75°F
Spring · Sep–Nov
Highs climb from about 20°C (68°F) to 24°C (75°F) and the rain eases off to about 25 mm (1 in) by November. The wind starts to pick up again toward summer.
Visiting Killarney: Tickets, Getting There and Tips
Killarney is a relaxed, family-friendly place to watch racing. Club race days are cheap, you can get close to the action, and the paddock atmosphere is easygoing.
Tickets
For regular race meetings, tickets are sold online and at the gate, and buying online is cheaper. Children under 12 usually get in free. Bigger events, such as the Motor Show or a festival weekend, cost more and are worth booking ahead.
Getting there
The circuit is at 6 Potsdam Road, Table View, in Cape Town’s northern suburbs. Spectator parking is through Gate 5. For some big events, such as the 2026 Motor Show, organizers have offered park-and-ride from Bayside Mall on the MyCiTi bus, included with your ticket, so check the event details before you go.
Tips
Gates on race Saturdays typically open in the morning and racing runs through the afternoon. Bring sunscreen and a windbreaker even in summer, because the south-easter can blow hard across the open site. Walk around: the best views change through the day, and Table Mountain makes almost any spot a good one for photos.
Can You Drive Killarney?
Yes, and that’s one of the best things about it. The WPMC runs street car track days with beginner, intermediate and advanced groups, so you can bring your own road car without racing experience. You’ll need a helmet (rentals are available), closed shoes and long sleeves. Check the club’s calendar for dates and current prices.
If straight lines are more your thing, Killarney’s Wednesday-night “Robot Racing” sessions let you run your car down the drag strip, usually on two Wednesdays a month from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Driver-training companies such as MasterDrive also run courses at the complex.
On screen, Killarney’s rallycross layout is available as a downloadable track in DiRT Rally 2.0, from the game’s World RX content. We couldn’t confirm an official version of the full Grand Prix circuit in current sims.
Talk Killarney With Other Enthusiasts
Booking your first track day, racing in the Power Series or heading to the Cape Grand Prix Revival? Share what you know, ask questions and meet other Cape Town car people in the AutoGathering community.
- Killarney track days
- Robot Racing drag nights
- Power Series results
- Cape Grand Prix Revival
- Table Mountain photos
- Club racing in Cape Town
- Rallycross memories
- Getting started in motorsport
Killarney FAQ
How long is Killarney International Raceway?
The Grand Prix circuit is 3.267 km (2.030 miles) long, the same length it has had since it opened in December 1960. The World RX rallycross layout is 1.060 km.
Where is Killarney Raceway?
At 6 Potsdam Road, Table View, in Cape Town’s northern suburbs, South Africa. Spectator parking is through Gate 5.
Who runs Killarney?
The Western Province Motor Club (WPMC), a members’ club that organizes racing, track days and drag nights at the complex.
What is the lap record at Killarney?
The outright record is 1:08.100, set by Ian Scheckter in a Lotus 72 Formula 1 car in 1974.
Did Formula 1 race at Killarney?
Not for championship points, but the non-championship Cape Grand Prix ran here in the 1960s. Stirling Moss won in 1960 and Trevor Taylor in 1962.
Does World Rallycross still race at Killarney?
No. Killarney hosted World RX in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2023, but South Africa hasn’t been on the calendar since 2024.
Can I drive my own car at Killarney?
Yes. The WPMC runs street car track days for beginners and experienced drivers, and Wednesday-night Robot Racing sessions on the drag strip.
When is the Cape Grand Prix Revival?
The AG Capital Cape Grand Prix Revival is scheduled for February 6–7, 2027, with early-1960s Grand Prix cars.
Explore More Racing Circuits
Killarney is one of 8 venues in our African racing directory. For South Africa’s Grand Prix circuit, see our Kyalami guide, and for another coastal track, the Prince George Circuit in East London is in the directory too.
Photo credits
- Header image: SkyPixels, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Map of the Killarney complex showing the…: Jorjum, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Touring cars racing at Killarney with Table…: Jason Bagley from Cape Town, South Africa, CC BY-SA 2.0, cropped and resized.
- A blue GT car on the curbs…: Gerhard Bothma, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Classic Ford GT40s racing past the grandstand…: Gerhard Bothma, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- An Audi S1 rallycross car kicking up…: EKSRX, CC BY 2.0, cropped and resized.