 | |
| Location | Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal |
|---|---|
| Time zone | SAST (UTC+02:00) |
| Coordinates | 29°37′23″S 30°25′32″E / 29.62306°S 30.42556°E |
| Opened | 26 December 1953 |
| Closed | November 1981 |
| Major events | South African Formula One Championship (1961–1975) South African Springbok Championship Series (1966–1972) |
| Full Circuit (1962–1981) | |
| Length | 2.902 km (1.803 miles) |
| Turns | 7 |
| Race lap record | 1:00.300 ( John Love, Chevron B25, 1973, SA F1) |
| Original Circuit (1953–1961) | |
| Length | 2.575 km (1.600 miles) |
| Turns | 7 |
The Roy Hesketh Circuit was a racing circuit located on the outskirts of Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal. It was named after South African racing driver Roy Hesketh, who died in the Second World War.[1] 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.
The circuit was opened in December 1953, and extended in 1962.[2]
During its period of operation (1953-1981) it hosted rounds of the South African National Drivers Championship, and national Formula Atlantic races. The circuit also hosted the Easter races - a festival of racing over three days. Mike Hailwood, Giacomo Agostini, Barry Sheene, Kork Ballington, Jim Redman, Paddy Driver, Alan North, Mike Grant, Rod Gray and Syd Stacy were regular competitors at the circuit as were John Love, Jackie Pretorius, Sam Tingle, Jody Scheckter and brother Ian Scheckter.
In 1973 the South African government banned all motorsport due to the world oil crisis, the circuit went into decline and finally closed in November 1981 after only 28 years.[3]
- ^ "Roy Hesketh (1915-1943)". Jock Leyden.
- ^ "Pietermaritzburg, Roy Hesketh". Guido de Carli. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
- ^ "Roy Hesketh Circuit History".