STRATEGY DOCUMENT Killarney 2050 Cape Town’s Gateway to Global Motorsport Motivation for a Lease Extension to Killarney International Race Complex Greg Mills Killarney 2050 Cape Town’s Gateway to Global Motorsport Contents Foreword .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 Executive Summary .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 Killarney 2050.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 A 70-Year History .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 Killarney’s Contribution to the Social and Economic Life of Cape Town .. .. .. 8 Killarney’s Future Development Plans .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 11 A History of Killarney’s Lease .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 15 The Case for Continuity .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 17 Support for Killarney’s Role .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 19 Jean Todt.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 19 Anton Roux .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 20 Jody Scheckter .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 22 Dr Lawrence Tomlinson .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 23 Emanuele Pirro .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 25 Brian Redman .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 26 Howden Ganley .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 27 Jan Lammers .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 28 David Brabham .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 29 About the Author Dr Greg Mills heads the Johannesburg-based Published in May 2020 by The Brenthurst Brenthurst Foundation. He is, most recently, Foundation the co-author of Democracy Works: Rewiring Politics to Africa’s Advantage (Johannesburg/ The Brenthurst Foundation London: Panmacmillan/Hurst, 2019) and The (Pty) Limited Asian Aspiration: Why and How Africa Should PO Box 61631, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa Emulate Asia (Johannesburg: Panmacmillan, Tel +27-(0)11 274-2096 2020). He sits on the Advisory Board of the Royal Fax +27-(0)11 274-2097 United Services Institute, and has been a special www.thebrenthurstfoundation.org adviser to a number of governments in Africa, including Rwanda, Mozambique, and Malawi, and All rights reserved. The material in this has completed four assignments as an adviser publication may not be reproduced, stored, to the commander of the International Security or transmitted without the prior permission Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. of the publisher. Short extracts may be quoted, provided the source is fully acknowledged. He was, in August 2019, appointed as the President of the Western Province Motor Club. Layout and design: Sheaf Publishing, Benoni. He raced as Team Africa Le Mans at the 2019 Le Mans event, and received his South African national motorsport colours in 2016. KILLARNEY 2050 – CAPE TOWN’S GATEWAY TO GLOBAL MOTORSPORT Timothy Harris Wesgro CEO SA Reserve Bank Building Cape Town Ref: CEOU/2020/04/014 Ext: 8600 24 April 2020 Foreword illarney International Race Circuit is a Killarney might help our region profit from the K remarkable asset for Cape Town and the global historic racing and restoration industry - the Western Cape. The importance of the role that it fastest growing category of motorsport around the plays today, and could play in the future, explains world - given its unique position as the only race- why Wesgro is most willing to partner with the circuit in the Western Cape and (with East London) Brenthurst Foundation in preparing this forward- one of the few globally which remains in the same looking strategy document for this complex. layout as when it hosted a GP in the 1960s. This strategy provides a detailed history of In a post-COVID world we will have to make the track and its many achievements. Killarney full use of all our existing assets – of our people has been run by the Western Province Motor Club and infrastructure – in rebuilding our economy on a not-for-profit basis since the mid-1960s. and re-forging links with the outside world, all The circuit’s history goes back to the late-1940s, with the aim of creating jobs. however, when the land was cleared, and the Killarney’s role is not only about sport, facility laid down and added to over the following international visitors and income, however, no 70 years without public money. This represents an matter how important these are to the Cape and investment by the members of approximately R200 its citizens. Killarney plays an essential part in million, measured by contemporary replacement keeping racing off the streets by ensuring a safe costs. Today it is estimated that the Killarney venue to compete and welcomes these categories of complex brings around R350 million annually to motorsport with open arms. The number of entries our regional economy. for Robot and Street Racing – a combined 6 500 in The strategy also identifies areas of 2019Killarney’s rolealone is not only about– is sport, testament international visitors and to income, this however, contribution no matter how important these to are to the Cape and its citizens. Killarney plays an essential part in keeping racing off the streets by ensuring a safe venue to extraordinary promise for the facility, which if keepingcompete and welcomes our these roads categories safe. of motorsport with open arms. The number of entries for Robot and Street Racing - a combined 6,500 in 2019 alone - is testament to this contribution to keeping our roads safe. realised would considerably enhance its value and Wesgro is pleased to endorse the strategic Wesgro is pleased to endorse the strategic vision contained within this document, which lays out the next 25-years of contribution, not just in racing, but to training, visionthe development contained of Killarney International within Race Complex. this document, which lays engineering and road safety and in boosting the out the next 25 years of development of Killarney global brand of Cape Town and the Western Cape. InternationalTim Harris Race Complex. Killarney’s activities are already estimated to generate more than R100 million in annual media exposure. This document also highlights how TimCEO: WESGRO Harris STRATEGY DOCUMENT 3 KILLARNEY 2050 – CAPE TOWN’S GATEWAY TO GLOBAL MOTORSPORT Executive Summary ▶ Killarney is the most popular international ▶ Is used by international motor and motor- motoring, racing and events hub in Cape cycling manufacturers for testing, product Town, hosting 200 formal events for 150 000 launches and promotion, by the television, international, South African and local visitors film and media industry, for the SA duathlon from all communities, competitors and manu- cycling. The facility hosts 70 charity events facturers every year. annually for good causes. ▶ The adaptable 3,3 km track has Table ▶ Makes a significant contribution to road safety Mountain, one of the New Seven Wonders of through events, track access and advanced Nature, as backdrop. training. ▶ Contributes annually R350 million to Cape ▶ Venue facilities, built up over seven decades, Town’s economy through job creation and cater for a wide range of events, racing codes spend in extensive motoring, tourism and and safe, family entertainment. other industries. ▶ Spectator safety is assured by an annual ▶ Major annual events include the biggest Venue Grading Certificate from the City of motor show in the Western Cape, the only FIA Cape Town, Motorsport South Africa (MSA) World Championship event in Africa (World regulates major racing events and Killarney Rallycross), the International Passion for follows green practices. Speed and the International 8-hour Motorcycle ▶ Killarney is seeking a new lease from the City Endurance Race as well as multiple South of Cape Town to play its part in making Cape African National Championship Events. Town the Events Capital of Africa. STRATEGY DOCUMENT 4 KILLARNEY 2050 – CAPE TOWN’S GATEWAY TO GLOBAL MOTORSPORT Killarney 2050 Cape Town’s Gateway to Global Motorsport rom South Africa to Mozambique, Angola to FZambia, Zimbabwe to Congo, there have been some 50 Southern African motor-racing tracks over the last 100 years. Only two remain as they were, in the layout that they staged international Grands Prix in the 1960s. This nostalgia provides an extraordinary commercial, media and growth opportunity with the right public and private sector commitment. This document proposes a lease extension for The extension inaugurated on 12 February 1955 one of these two tracks, Killarney International Race Complex, based on its contribution to the economy and social life of the City of Cape Town. With the lease extension of 25 years, Killarney can deepen and expand this role to the advantage of the City and its citizens. A 70-Year History Killarney has been a labour of love that contrib- uted substantially to the City of Cape Town. The complex had its first taste of racing in 1947, when the Cape Divisional Council bypassed a section of what was then the main road to Malmesbury. The ‘Metropolitan Race Circuit’ opened 6 September 1952 STRATEGY DOCUMENT 5 KILLARNEY 2050 – CAPE TOWN’S GATEWAY TO GLOBAL MOTORSPORT Above: Killarney