Killarney International Raceway
Killarney International Raceway at a glance
- Location
- Milnerton, Cape Town, Western Cape
- Type
- road course
- Length
- 3.267 km (2.03 mi)
- Turns
- 5
- Direction
- clockwise
- Surface
- asphalt
- Opened
- 1960
- Owner
- Western Province Motor Club (WPMC)
- Phone
- +27 21 557 1639
- Website
- wpmc.co.za
Track map and layout
Killarney's Full Circuit is a short, fast 3.267 km lap with just five corners, laid out on flat land near Cape Town's Table View suburb. It was purpose-built in 1959-60 to FIA standards for 1500 cc Formula One cars, replacing an earlier, more basic loop that had grown up on the same site through the 1950s. The layout's simplicity, long straights punctuated by a handful of quick, open corners, keeps speeds high and makes overtaking straightforward, which is part of why it remains popular for national touring car, single-seater and superbike racing. An unusual feature is a second pit lane on the home straight, and Turn 9 (from an earlier configuration) could be converted into a chicane for motorcycle events. The venue also incorporates a separate drag strip and a go-kart track alongside the main circuit.
Configurations
| Layout | Length | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Full Circuit (1960-present) | 3.27 km | 3.267 km, 5 turns, used for the 1960 Cape Grand Prix and current national racing |
| 1954-1960 layout | 2.69 km | 2.687 km, 9 turns |
| World RX layout (2017-19, 2023) | 1.06 km | 1.060 km, 7 turns, built for World Rallycross |
Events and race weekends
Killarney is the home circuit of the Western Province Motor Club and hosts the bulk of Cape Town's national motorsport calendar, including South African touring car and single-seater championship rounds, national superbike racing, karting championships, drag racing ('Street 2 Strip') and club-level time attack days. The circuit hosted the FIA World Rallycross Championship's round in South Africa in 2017-2019 and again in 2023 on a dedicated infield layout. It last held an FIA World Championship Formula 1 race, the non-championship 1960 Cape Grand Prix, won by Stirling Moss.
| Event | Series | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| WPMC national race meetings | South African national motorsport (touring cars, single-seaters, superbikes) | Year-round (multiple rounds) | |
| Street 2 Strip drag racing | Drag racing | Multiple dates through the year |
Getting there and parking
Killarney sits in Milnerton/Table View, on Cape Town's Atlantic seaboard side, about 15-20 minutes from the city centre and a similar distance from Cape Town International Airport via the N7/M14. Public transport options to the circuit itself are limited, so most visitors drive or take a rideshare/taxi.
- Cape Town International Airport (CPT) · about 25 min drive
Parking
On-site parking is available for race meetings and events; arrive early on busy national-championship weekends as local roads can back up.
Public transport is limited in this part of Cape Town — a rideshare (Uber/Bolt) or hire car is the most reliable way to reach the circuit.
Hotels and camping near Killarney International Raceway
Most visitors base themselves in central Cape Town or along the Atlantic seaboard (Sea Point, Milnerton, Table View), both within 15-25 minutes of the circuit and offering a wide range of hotels and self-catering options. There is no trackside camping culture at Killarney; overnight stays are almost always off-site.
Where to look
Table View and Milnerton (closest to the circuit), or central Cape Town/V&A Waterfront (20-25 minutes away, far larger choice of hotels).
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
Killarney offers public track schools and circuit hire for club and corporate track days, alongside its drag strip's regular 'Street 2 Strip' open drag racing nights that let road-registered cars run down the strip. The main circuit can be booked for half or full days by clubs and driving schools, and karting is available on the venue's separate kart track.
Who runs days here
Lap records
| Category | Time | Driver | Car | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Formula 1 (1974 False Bay 100, non-championship) | 1:08.100 | Ian Scheckter | Lotus 72 | 1974 |
Spectator guide
Killarney's flat, open layout gives spectators clear sightlines across much of the circuit from general viewing areas, with hospitality venues including the Pheiffer Lounge and boma available for race-day guests. The short lap and simple corner sequence make it easy to follow the whole field from a single vantage point.
Seating
General viewing banks and hospitality venues (including the Pheiffer Lounge) overlook the pit straight and main corners.
Best places to watch
Areas overlooking the twin pit lanes and first corners give the best view of race starts and overtaking.
Weather
- Dec-Feb: warm, dry Cape summer, highs around 25-28°C with strong afternoon southeasterly wind common
- Jun-Aug: cool, wet Cape winter, highs around 17-18°C with regular rain
History of Killarney International Raceway
From a beachside loop to a Grand Prix track
Motor racing on the site now occupied by Killarney began informally in 1947, with a rough tarred loop laid out alongside the old coast road at Table View, north of Cape Town. Through the early 1950s this grew into a proper if basic circuit, extended westward in 1952 and southward in 1955. Ambitions grew further when organisers set their sights on hosting a Formula 1 race, prompting a full rebuild in 1959-60 to a 3.267 km layout designed by racing driver and engineer Edgar Hoal, built to the FIA standards of the day for the 1.5-litre Formula 1 cars then in use.
A brief Grand Prix era
The rebuilt circuit hosted the non-championship Cape Grand Prix on 17 December 1960, won by Stirling Moss in a Porsche, part of a short-lived South African summer season of non-championship Formula 1 races that also included Cape Town's sister events at other local circuits. Killarney never hosted a round of the official FIA World Championship, with that honour going instead to East London and later Kyalami, but the Cape Grand Prix cemented the circuit's place in South African motorsport history.
Home of Cape motorsport
Since the 1960s, Killarney has operated as the Western Province Motor Club's home circuit and the anchor of Cape Town's national racing calendar, hosting decades of South African touring car, single-seater and superbike championship rounds. A drag strip and kart track were added alongside the main circuit, broadening its use beyond circuit racing. The venue built a temporary infield layout to host the FIA World Rallycross Championship's South African round in 2017-2019 and again in 2023, briefly putting Killarney on the international rallycross stage. Today it remains one of South Africa's busiest circuits, mixing national championship weekends with club racing, drag nights and driving schools.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Killarney circuit?+
The Full Circuit used today is 3.267 km (2.030 miles) with 5 turns.
Did Killarney ever host Formula 1?+
It hosted the non-championship 1960 Cape Grand Prix, won by Stirling Moss, but never a round of the official FIA Formula 1 World Championship.
Who owns and operates Killarney?+
The Western Province Motor Club (WPMC) owns and operates Killarney International Raceway.
Does Killarney have a drag strip?+
Yes. A dedicated drag strip runs alongside the main circuit and hosts regular 'Street 2 Strip' drag racing nights open to road-registered cars.
How do you get to Killarney from Cape Town city centre?+
It is about a 20-25 minute drive via the N7/M14; public transport to the circuit is limited, so driving or a rideshare is the usual option.
Has Killarney hosted World Rallycross?+
Yes, the FIA World Rallycross Championship's South African round ran at Killarney on a dedicated infield layout in 2017-2019 and again in 2023.
Other tracks nearby
- Cape Town Street Circuit · 14 km · street circuit
- East London Grand Prix Circuit (Prince George Circuit) · 871 km · street circuit
Facts checked against 4 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-11.