Rare, precious and beautiful classic sportscars are set to take to the roads of the Western Cape in March when the Cape 1000 gets under way.

South Africa’s own ‘Mille Miglia’-styled classic car event was announced late last year and organiser, Ross Crichton says: “We are very pleased with the response to our call for entries. For this inaugural 1000 Mile Tribute event we decided on a limit of 60 cars, and I’m pleased to announce that just about half of those available slots have already been snapped up!”

Confirmed

Some of the exotic cars already confirmed to compete in the four categories of event, which pays homage to the iconic Mille Miglia, a historic 1 000-mile race that took place in Italy from 1927 to 1957, include a super-rare 1961 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster, a 1955 Jaguar XK140 OTS, 1974 Porsche 911 2.7 RS and even what is arguably the most iconic of all supercars, a 1990 Ferrari F40.

The event, which kicks off with registration at the V&A Waterfront on Tuesday, March 8, will be run over the course of four days (five nights). It will include regularity stages, non-competitive track events and “a healthy dose of grand touring” according to the route planners, Dave Alexander and Di Dougmore.

Limited

Entries are limited to certain brands, models and by invitation or application (and subject to approval by the admissions committee to ensure a line-up of top-end entrants).

The categories are:

- 1927-1957: Mille Miglia Specific
- Pre-1976: Classic
- 1977-1996: Modern Classic
- 1997-2021: Sports

The action begins when the 60 glamorous vehicles leave the V&A Waterfront on Wednesday, March 9 and head for Hermanus along some of South Africa’s most scenic coastal routes.

The following day’s drive takes entrants from Hermanus to the postcard-pretty surrounds of Franschhoek while Day 3 leads competitors to St. Helena Bay on the West Coast, before returning to Cape Town the following day.

Negotiated

“We call on any automotive enthusiast interested in participating in this exclusive event to get in touch as soon as possible to avoid disappointment,” says Crichton. “We have also negotiated special rates for owners who need to transport competing vehicles from Johannesburg to Cape Town and back.”

The Cape 1000 is organised by Super Car Lifestyle (which also hosts the Round Table Cannonball Run Africa, Concours South Africa etc.) together with Cars.co.za, SCL Travel and Silvercrest Super Car Insurance.

Beneficiaries of the Cape 1000 include the Motorsport Legends Benevolent Fund and Quadpara Association of South Africa (QASA).

Registrations are now open on www.cape1000.com or by contacting info@cape1000.com. Entries close on  January 24.

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