Beneath the towering presence of Table Mountain and the Atlantic breeze sweeping over Philip Kgosana Drive, motorsport history was made this weekend as Franco Scribante was crowned King of the Mountain at the first-ever Speed Classic Cape Town on Sunday, 26 October.
Scribante, behind the wheel of his 2018 Nissan GTR R35, claimed the top spot with an impressive time of 35.260 seconds, edging out Reghard Roets, also in a Nissan GTR R35, by just 0.599 seconds. Dawie Joubert, piloting his Lotus Exige, rounded out the podium with a 37.407-second run.
According to NovaNews, the event drew close to 15 000 spectators through the gates and nearly 180 000 online viewers, marking an electrifying debut for what organisers hope will become a flagship motorsport event in South Africa.
The Speed Classic Cape Town showcased more than 80 high-performance machines, ranging from Ferraris and Lamborghinis to single-seater hillclimb monsters, reaching blistering speeds of up to 240km/h on the 1.8km track.
Race Director Enzo Kuun described the setting as ‘one of the most scenic tracks in the world.’
‘To race with Table Mountain to my right, the Atlantic Ocean to my left and Lion’s Head behind me was an absolute privilege and epic experience,’ Kuun added.
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For Scribante, the win didn’t come easy. Reflecting on his victory, he admitted: ‘We were absolutely nowhere when we got to the Class Finals, so I knew we would have to dig deep. But I didn’t know if it would be enough, so it was a miracle that it all came together for the final run.’
Saturday’s Classic Car segment featured a nostalgic mix of 70 vintage machines, from timeless single-seaters to modified legends of the past. It was Charles Arton, however, who stole the show, claiming the Classic Champion crown in his 1979 March 79A with a winning time of 40.143 seconds.
Scribante also made a strong showing in this category, piloting his Chevron B19 to a 40.362-second run in the Classic Champion finale, while James Temple secured third in his Shelby Daytona Coupe with a 43.245-second finish.
Event Director Garth Mackintosh expressed pride in how the inaugural edition came together, calling it a major step for South African motorsport.
‘To see our vision come to fruition has been extremely satisfying,’ Mackintosh said. ‘I think you can only get bigger and better from here, and we’re ready to invest and create a future event that can only go from strength to strength.’
The results from both days are available on the official Speed Classic Cape Town website.
Here’s more from the Speed Classic Cape Town: watch the highlights below, see exclusive photos, and relive the excitement from an unforgettable weekend of high-octane action and Cape Town flair.
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Picture: Franco Scribante / Instagram
