Killarney Motor Racing Complex Explained

Killarney International Raceway
Location:Cape Town, South Africa
Time:SAST
Coordinates:-33.8233°N 18.5278°W
Opened:1951
Architect:Edgar Hoal
Operator:Western Province Motor Club
Events:Former:
FIA World Rallycross Championship
World RX of South Africa
(2017–2019, 2023)
Cape Grand Prix (1960–1962, 1965, 1967–1968)
Layout1:Full circuit (1960–present)
Length Km:3.267
Length Mi:2.030
Turns:5
Record Time:1:06.745
Record Driver: Stuart White
Record Car:Ginetta G57
Record Year:2019
Record Class:Sports & GT
Layout2:World RX Circuit (2017–2019, 2023)
Length Km2:1.060
Length Mi2:0.659
Turns2:7
Layout3:Full Circuit (1954–1960)
Length Km3:2.687
Length Mi3:1.670
Turns3:9
Layout4:Full Circuit (1952–1954)
Length Km4:1.650
Length Mi4:1.025
Turns4:5
Layout5:Original Circuit (1951)
Length Km5:1.000
Length Mi5:0.621
Turns5:4

Killarney International Raceway is a motorsport complex in Table View, Cape Town, South Africa. It first saw action in 1947.

History

In 1959/60 the track was upgraded and rebuilt to conform to the required FIA standard for the 1500 cc Formula One cars of the time. The design was entrusted to Edgar Hoal, a leading racing driver and roads engineer, who also supervised its construction.

The Western Cape then had its first taste of international Formula One racing when the non-championship Cape Grand Prix was held at Killarney on 17 December 1960,[1] and was won by Stirling Moss in a Porsche. Since then the complex has grown to include every facet of circuit motorsport. So much so that Killarney currently hosts all forms of main circuit racing, as well as motocross, karting, super motards, stock car, drag racing and European Truck Racing as a one-off event.

The circuit will host the first FIA World Championship race in South Africa since the 1990s with the inaugural World RX of South Africa to be held in 2017 for the FIA World Rallycross Championship.[2]

Track features

The main track has the unusual feature of having two pit lanes on the home stretch. The racing complex also has a drag racing strip and a go-kart track.

Additionally, turn 9 can be turned into a proper chicane for the purposes of motorcycle races.

For the World RX of South Africa, the northwestern portion of the circuit was used, with an extra dirt road added to its infield.[3]

Lap records

As of March 2023, the fastest official race lap records at the Killarney Motor Racing Complex are listed as:

CategoryTimeDriverVehicleEvent
Full Circuit: 3.267 km (1960–present)
1:08.100[4]
1:13.600[5] 1973 Cape Town 3 Hours
1:15.426[6] 2022 2nd Killarney Global Touring Car Championship round
1:18.326[7] 2023 1st Killarney Global Touring Car Championship round

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 1960 Non-World Championship Grands Prix. www.fiaworldrallycross.com. 9 November 2019.
  2. News: SOUTH AFRICA TO HOST WORLD RX FROM 2017. www.fiaworldrallycross.com. 25 September 2016.
  3. Web site: Venue Map. 2019-09-09.
  4. Web site: XV False Bay 100 . 6 August 2023.
  5. Web site: 1973 South African Springbok Trophy Cape Town 3 hours . 6 August 2023.
  6. Web site: 2023 Extreme Festival Global Touring Cars GTC & SupaCup – Race 2 . 17 September 2022 . 6 August 2023.
  7. Web site: 2022 Extreme Festival Global Touring Cars GTC & SupaCup – Race 1 . 18 March 2023 . 6 August 2023.