Africa’s Premier Motoring Platform Gears Up for Showtime

The ninth Festival of Motoring will return to the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit from 28 to 30 August, bringing together vehicle manufacturers, new model launches, driving experiences and family attractions.

Organisers say this year's event, themed "Driven by purpose, defined by legacy", will feature established brands alongside new entrants, with test drives, track experiences and off-road demonstrations forming the core of the programme.

"We have seen strong growth in attendance over recent years, reflecting continued consumer interest in live automotive experiences," said Michael Dehn, Managing Director of Messe Frankfurt South Africa. He said the festival had become an important platform for manufacturers to engage directly with consumers.

WesBank returns as the event's naming sponsor. Lebogang Gaoaketse, WesBank's Head of Marketing and Communication, said the festival showcased developments in the mobility sector while bringing together manufacturers, consumers and industry partners.

More than 20 manufacturers are expected to participate, including Volkswagen South Africa, Toyota South Africa, BMW South Africa, Suzuki, Mahindra, Chery and several emerging Chinese brands.

A major attraction will be Volkswagen Group Africa's celebration of 75 years in South Africa, during which the company will unveil the new Volkswagen T-Roc to the South African public. Visitors will also be able to view models including the Tayron, Amarok Dark Label and Vivo Xpress, while the Golf GTI will feature in track demonstrations.

Volkswagen will also offer test drives, hot laps and family activities throughout the weekend.

BMW Group South Africa will showcase vehicles from the BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad brands, while visitors will be able to book BMW M driving experiences through the festival's ticketing platform.

Driving experiences remain one of the festival's main attractions, with participating manufacturers offering selected test drives and track sessions. Paid hot laps will also be available through specialist driving partners.

The 4x4 Village will return with off-road demonstrations designed to showcase the capabilities of participating vehicles.

Away from the circuit, visitors will have access to hospitality areas, family facilities and entertainment throughout the venue. Brand South Africa will sponsor the premium hospitality suite overlooking the circuit, while a dedicated family suite will cater for visitors attending with children.

Puma Energy will host the Family Zone for children aged five and older and support aerial displays by the Flying Lions display team. Santam will sponsor the Handling Track.

Visitors travelling by Gautrain will have access to complimentary shuttle buses to the venue, while Avis will operate a park-and-ride shuttle service from Mall of Africa.

"We are looking forward to welcoming visitors to what we believe will be our biggest Festival of Motoring yet," said Judy Maharaj, the festival's show director.