The City of Cape Town, in partnership with the Western Province Motor Club(WPMC) will again this year create a safe and legal alternative to illegal street racing by hosting robot racing at Killarney race track. This initiative aims to encourage motor racing in a controlled environment.
The first robot racing event was held in December 2015. Since then, many successful motorsport events have been hosted at the Killarney race track for motor racing enthusiasts.
The first of this year’s Robot Racing events kicked off on Wednesday, 19 January 2022.
‘We have experienced too many incidents in the past when motorists resort to illegal street racing, often resulting in serious injuries or fatal accidents. Illegal street racing also endangers the lives of other road users. The events at Killarney create a safe alternative for those who would like to test their vehicle’s performance and their driving skills. Safety protocols are a priority at these very competitive and popular racing events which attract a lot of spectators,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
The two popular race categories are the Street to Strip and Robot to Robot events. Participation is R70 per vehicle subject to safety checks which includes that the vehicle must be licensed and roadworthy. The entry fee for spectators is R70 per person.
The City’s Traffic Service would like to remind motorsport enthusiasts that these events are held in a controlled, safe environment where participants and spectators can enjoy racing.
Racing on a public road is extremely dangerous, and prohibited by law. Apart from the danger that participants pose to themselves and other road users, their actions also constitute noise disturbances and often result in damages to City roadways and infrastructure.
‘We would like to encourage motor racing enthusiasts to make use of this opportunity to put their cars through its paces and gear up on a race track, instead of illegally taking to public roads. Our traffic officers will work closely with Western Province Motor Club and we will continue with daily patrols to bring those to book who participate in illegal street racing,’ added Alderman Smith.
Source: City Of Cape Town