Zwartkops Raceway
Zwartkops Raceway, located just past Kyalami towards Pretoria West, is a comprehensive racing facility that offers visitors varied aspects of motoring tourism in Gauteng.
Owned by Zwartkops International World of Motoring, this world-class facility is the de facto home of motorsport in South Africa, with some 76 percent of circuit racing licence-holders living in Gauteng.
Public support and excitement are integral to motor racing and, above all, Zwartkops offers spectators and participants a platform to embrace the many aspects of motoring in Gauteng. Facilities include the most advanced and biggest driver education centre in Africa (which offers advanced driver education and skid-pan training for residents and visitors); an environmentally friendly 4X4 driver training and vehicle evaluation facility; the only internationally licensed kart circuit in South Africa (rated one of the finest in the world) and an international high-speed circuit for motorsport, advanced driver training and product testing.
Professional driving and motorbike riding instruction are provided on a weekly basis, in addition to advanced driver education and daily driver safety courses, which include hijack awareness training.
Product evaluation and demonstration, including tyre performance and other aspects of high-speed mechanics, also take place at the track.
Taken during the Legends of the 9 hour race meeting held at Zwartkops race track, Pretoria, South Africa. Photo courtesy Trackz
But the main attraction is the domestic and international motorsport, which happens on a monthly basis. Instructors and professional drivers also compete in the international 4x4 motoring championships and world karting tournaments.
The Zwartkops series events – four championships that take place throughout the year – are hugely popular and attract massive crowds to the raceway.
The Passion for Speed Festival features legendary cars and drivers the likes of former Springbok rugby players Kobus Wiese and Toks van der Linde, who burn rubber across the track in a search of speed during the one-day event.
The Inland Cars and Bikes event is a local showcase of some of the most exciting wheel-to-wheel racing among various classes, from Formula Libre to production cars.
The greatest spectator event at the track is without doubt the WesBank Super Series, South Africa’s premier track racing series. The championship includes a SuperBike challenge for production motorcycles, one for V8 Supercars, one for Volkswagens (the Engen Volkswagen Cup) and one for Polo Playas.
The Pro Tour, which features racing Shelbys, Porsches and Ferraris, is also gaining in popularity.
Directions
From Johannesburg take the N14 (Krugersdorp Highway) north. Get off at the R55 and turn to Pretoria West. Continue through the traffic lights and about 10 minutes later Zwartkops will be on your left.
From Ekurhuleni, travel west on the R21 and pass over the N1. Take the next turnoff (M10 Hans Strydom Drive) and turn left at the traffic lights towards Pretoria West. Follow the M10 and at the 8th traffic light turn right onto the R55. Zwartkops is on your left about 2km on.
From Pretoria, go past the old Iscor steelworks and follow the R55 south past Laudium. Zwartkops will be on your right.