Western Cape – The Cape 1000 has earned global recognition by being featured alongside prestigious events like the International Historic Motoring Awards.
The sixth edition of The Cape 1000, South Africa’s most breathtaking grand touring regularity rally and the country’s most beautiful drive, proudly presented by Private Clients by Old Mutual, returns from 20 to 25 March 2027.
Known affectionately as “South Africa’s most beautiful drive,” The Cape 1000 is a premium 1,000-mile (1,600 km) grand touring and regularity rally. Inspired by iconic tribute races such as Italy’s legendary Mille Miglia, the event showcases a curated field of rare vintage, classic, modern classic, and modern supercars winding through the scenic coastal roads and mountain passes of the Western Cape.
Every year the routes are refined to showcase a different facet of the Western Cape.
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Historic Motoring Awards
The Cape 1000, the 1,000-mile grand touring rally through some of the Western Cape’s most spectacular scenery, has been shortlisted in the Rally or Tour of the Year category at the 2026 International Historic Motoring Awards.
The shortlisting recognises the event’s distinctive grand touring regularity format, its carefully curated field of rare and collectible vehicles, and the way it places exceptional historic and classic machinery on some of the Western Cape’s finest roads while raising meaningful funds for charity.
About the Awards
Widely regarded as the most prestigious accolades in classic and historic motoring, the International Historic Motoring Awards celebrate excellence, innovation and dedication across the global historic motoring community. The awards shine a spotlight on the individuals, clubs, organisations and events that preserve, promote and enrich shared motoring heritage.
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This year’s nominees reflect the passion, expertise and creativity that continue to drive the historic motoring sector forward. The winners will be announced at a glittering ceremony on 13 November 2026 at The Peninsula London, where leading figures from the international motoring world will gather to celebrate outstanding contributions to the preservation and enjoyment of motoring history.
About The Cape 1000
Founded in 2022 and presented by Private Clients by Old Mutual, The Cape 1000 is a five-day, 1,000-mile grand touring regularity rally that has grown into one of South Africa’s premier automotive and lifestyle experiences. It returns from 20 to 25 March 2027 with a field of approximately 70 cars across the Classic, Modern Classic, Sports Cars and Specials/Recreation categories.
For the first time, the event will begin on a Saturday, with a public Show & Shine at Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront followed by a Sunday morning send-off. From there, the field heads for Franschhoek and the Overberg before finishing at the Silo Precinct.
Participants enjoy five nights of world-class hospitality, precision regularity stages, Cape cuisine and the camaraderie that has become the event’s hallmark. Beneficiaries are the Motorsport Legends Benevolent Fund and the QuadPara Association of South Africa (QASA); the 2026 rally raised more than R300 000 for these causes.
“To stand on an international shortlist alongside the world’s great historic motoring events is a proud moment for The Cape 1000 and for South Africa,” says Event Director Vanessa Crichton. “We set out to create a rally that could hold its own globally, with exceptional cars, extraordinary roads and a real charitable purpose. This recognition belongs to our participants, partners and beneficiaries, and it puts the Cape firmly on the map for classic motoring enthusiasts everywhere.”
Source and References
Fyfe PR
For more information, visit www.cape1000.com or follow @thecape1000.
