The Roy Hesketh Circuit was a

racing circuit A race track (racetrack, racing track or racing circuit) is a facility built for racing of vehicles, athletes, or animals (e.g. horse racing or greyhound racing). A race track also may feature grandstands or concourses. Race tracks are also us ...

located on the outskirts of

Pietermaritzburg Pietermaritzburg (; Zulu: umGungundlovu) is the capital and second-largest city in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was founded in 1838 and is currently governed by the Msunduzi Local Municipality. Its Zulu name umGungundlovu ...

KwaZulu-Natal KwaZulu-Natal (, also referred to as KZN and known as "the garden province") is a province of South Africa that was created in 1994 when the Zulu bantustan of KwaZulu ("Place of the Zulu" in Zulu) and Natal Province were merged. It is loca ...

. It was named after

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring count ...

n racing driver Roy Hesketh, who died in the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

. Doug Aldridge, Colin Dove, Ossie Fisher, George Finch and George Shrives got together as a Consortium from Pietermaritzburg in the early nineteen fifties to first build and then maintain and improve the circuit. During its period of operation (1953-1981) it hosted rounds of the South African National Drivers Championship, and national

Formula Atlantic Formula Atlantic is a specification of open-wheel racing car developed in the 1970s. It was used in professional racing through the IMSA Atlantic Championship until 2009 and is currently primarily used in amateur racing through Sports Car Club ...

races. The circuit also hosted the Easter races - a festival of racing over three days.

Mike Hailwood Stanley Michael Bailey Hailwood, (2 April 1940 – 23 March 1981) was a British professional motorcycle racer and racing driver. He is regarded by many as one of the greatest racers of all time. He competed in the Grand Prix motorcycl ...

Giacomo Agostini Giacomo Agostini (; born 16 June 1942) is an Italian multi-time world champion Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. Nicknamed Ago, he amassed 122 Grand Prix wins and 15 World Championship titles. Of these, 68 wins and 8 titles came in the 500 ...

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, Paddy Driver,

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, Mike Grant, Rod Gray and Syd Stacy were regular competitors at the circuit as were John Love, Jackie Pretorius,

Sam Tingle Samuel Tingle (24 August 1921 – 19 December 2008) was an English-born racing driver from Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe. He participated in five Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, and scored no championship points. He also competed in several ...

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and brother

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. In 1973 the South African government banned all motorsport due to the world oil crisis, the circuit went into decline and finally closed in 1981 after only 28 years.

The Stock Car Dust Bowl

Stock Car racing started at the Dust Bowl Circuit in the mid 60s and was very successful, it created a new style of racing in the area bringing stock car drivers from as far afield as Dundee and

Durban Durban ( ) ( zu, eThekwini, from meaning 'the port' also called zu, eZibubulungwini for the mountain range that terminates in the area), nicknamed ''Durbs'',Ishani ChettyCity nicknames in SA and across the worldArticle on ''news24.com'' from ...

. Miles Crerar founded the Pietermarizburg Stockcar and Speedway Supporters Club. Most drivers were local, such as Clive an
Nigel Owen
Alyn Woodley, Allan Hoy, Colin Clarke, Llew Futter, Gareth Bailey, Margaret Tyrer, Witty Boast, Bunny Dique, Lez Bromfield and Chris Currey. The sport went into decline in the late 70s and the circuit closed for good in 1981.

Dirt Bike Speedway

Dave Hiron an ex UK speedway rider and hard working secretary for stock car and motorcycle dirt racing arranged motorcycle racing on the stock car track. Dave Hiron was seriously injured when accidentally run down by a rider while officiating, after a long recovery period worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make dirt bikes a success in the 1970s. Riders of that time include: S.A. champion, Les Smith, Eddie English, Arthur Arpin and the Bergstrom brothers.

Karting

Blackie Blackman, John White, Neville Flint and Alf Ford and many other raced at the Karting track built on the inside of the main racing circuit. Arthur Eggar won the Natal Championship in 1976 and awarded the Natal Colours.

Post Closure

Motor racing in Pietermaritzburg gradually decreased after the closing of the track in 1981. The track is now being used for advanced driver training and track days. In January 2004 the circuit was sold to the Roy Hesketh Motor Racing Foundation for R 3,250,000. Strict development conditions were attached to the sale. In 2009 Bunker Racing started at the circuit. 2010 the circuit was closed to all motor racing after several civil protests against the noise. In 2013 the property was put up for sale for R 1.5 million due to the Roy Hesketh Motor Racing Foundation defaulting on the previous sale conditions.

Pre Roy Hesketh Circuit

This 3.4 mile Alexandra Park Street Circuit was established in 1948 on streets within the town of Pietermaritzburg. Races were held until 1953 when th
Roy Hesketh Circuit
was built.

References

{{reflist

External links

Roy Hesketh Motor Racing Programme Covers 1953-1979

* ttp://royheskethcircuitheritage.webstarts.com// Roy Hesketh Circuitbr>Races Results 1953 - 1981Roy Hesketh Circuit Heritage - Motorcycle Pictorial History 1953 - 1981 - Book
Stock car racing Motorsport venues in South Africa Defunct sports venues in South Africa Defunct motorsport venues Sports venues in KwaZulu-Natal Sports venues completed in 1953