South Africa’s ultimate grand touring experience is returning with spectacular cars, breathtaking roads, world-class hospitality and a bigger ambition for its charitable causes.
Some road trips are about getting from one place to another.
The Cape 1000 is about everything that happens in between.
From the roar of extraordinary cars to winding roads through some of the Western Cape’s most spectacular landscapes, South Africa’s celebrated grand touring regularity rally is returning for its sixth edition from 20 to 25 March 2027.
Brought to you by Private Clients by Old Mutual, The Cape 1000 has built a reputation over its first five editions as one of the country’s standout automotive and lifestyle experiences.
Now, organisers are preparing to take the experience even further.
And the engines are already warming.
A new start for a much-loved tradition
The 2027 edition will introduce an important change.
For the first time, The Cape 1000 will start on a Saturday.
The event will open with its annual Show & Shine, giving the public an opportunity to see the extraordinary cars taking part before the competitors head out onto the roads.
From there, the route will showcase some of the Western Cape’s celebrated roads and hospitality destinations.
The journey will travel through Franschhoek and the Overberg before reaching its traditional finale at the V&A Waterfront, where the event will conclude with the much-anticipated Podium Finish.
The route is refined each year to reveal different sides of the Western Cape.
That means even returning participants can expect something fresh.
Five editions have built the momentum
Since launching in 2022, The Cape 1000 has grown into a highly anticipated fixture on the South African automotive calendar.
According to Event Director Vanessa Crichton, the first five editions have delivered a combination that continues to define the event: extraordinary cars, unforgettable scenery and genuine camaraderie among participants.
The 2027 edition is designed to build on that foundation.
“The new Saturday start will open the event even more to the public,” Crichton says, while emphasising that the essentials remain unchanged.
Exceptional vehicles.
Beautiful South African roads.
World-class hospitality.
And friendships that can last a lifetime.
It is a formula that has clearly found its audience.
Only 70 cars will make the cut
Exclusivity remains central to The Cape 1000.
The 2027 entry field will be capped at approximately 70 cars, accommodating around 140 participants.
But this is not simply a gathering of expensive machinery.
The event is a regularity rally, inspired by legendary endurance events from around the world.
Participants compete across four categories:
- Classic
- Modern Classic
- Sports Cars
- Specials/Recreation
That carefully curated mix is part of what gives The Cape 1000 its distinctive character.
Vintage machinery can share the road with classics and modern performance cars, creating a moving celebration of automotive history, design and engineering.
And then there is the setting.
Few places can provide a backdrop quite like the Western Cape.
Where the road becomes the destination
The Cape 1000 is built around the idea that the journey itself should be unforgettable.
Participants can expect spectacular scenery, five nights of world-class accommodation, carefully planned precision regularity stages and the social experience that has become one of the event’s defining features.
The roads are important.
The cars are important.
But so is what happens when the engines stop.
The camaraderie between participants has become a hallmark of the event, creating an experience that goes beyond the competition.
That combination of motoring, hospitality and shared adventure is what sets The Cape 1000 apart.
A partnership built around excellence
Private Clients by Old Mutual returns as the event’s presenting partner.
For Jean Minnaar, Managing Director of Private Clients by Old Mutual, the partnership reflects shared values around excellence, passion and memorable experiences.
“Supporting another outstanding edition allows us to celebrate South Africa’s extraordinary scenery, exceptional cars and the remarkable community that comes together each year,” Minnaar says.
The event is also supported by Scuderia South Africa, the Official Ferrari Dealer, as a key partner.
Additional partners include SCL Travel, SilverCrest Super Car Insurance, Godox SA, InterActive Signs and BKD Auditors.
Together, these partnerships help create an experience that sits at the intersection of motoring, luxury travel and lifestyle.
The drive has a purpose beyond the road
There is another reason The Cape 1000 matters.
The event continues to support two causes close to its heart: the Motorsport Legends Benevolent Fund and the QuadPara Association of South Africa (QASA).
The Motorsport Legends Benevolent Fund provides emergency financial relief to motorsport personalities who have fallen on hard times.
QASA is the leading agency representing people living with spinal cord injury and physical disability.
The fundraising ambition is growing.
In 2026, The Cape 1000 raised more than R300,000 for these causes.
Organisers now aim to exceed that amount in 2027.
It means every kilometre of the rally can contribute to something beyond the experience of those behind the wheel.
The Western Cape is ready
There is a reason grand touring has such enduring appeal.
It combines the thrill of the machine with the freedom of the open road.
But The Cape 1000 adds another ingredient: South Africa itself becomes part of the experience.
The Western Cape’s landscapes provide the backdrop.
Its roads become the route.
Its hospitality becomes part of the journey.
And its automotive culture brings together a carefully selected group of enthusiasts who share an appreciation for exceptional cars and unforgettable experiences.
For five editions, that formula has continued to evolve.
In 2027, it gets another chapter.
Mark the dates
From 20 to 25 March 2027, approximately 70 cars will take to the Western Cape for six days of motoring, hospitality, competition and camaraderie.
The first Saturday start will give the public an earlier opportunity to experience the spectacle through the Show & Shine.
Then the rally heads into Franschhoek and the Overberg, before the cars return for the traditional Podium Finish at the V&A Waterfront.
For returning participants, it is another opportunity to experience the event they have come to love.
For first-timers, it is an invitation to discover what all the noise is about.
And for South African motoring enthusiasts, it is another chance to see some remarkable cars where they belong:
out on some of the country’s most beautiful roads.
The Cape 1000 is not simply returning.
It is evolving.
The cars are ready.
The roads are waiting.
And in March 2027, South Africa’s most beautiful drive will roar back to life.
For more information or sponsorship enquiries, visit The Cape 1000.
