South Africa’s secret supercar test track – And a 250km/h highway

South Africa is home to a little-know car testing circuit that has welcomed legendary supercars like the Bugatti Veyron and Rolls-Royce Spectre.

Known as the Daimler Proving Ground, the site has been used by various global manufacturers to test their new vehicles in hot climate conditions.

It features a 17.5km high-speed oval with two 4.5km-long traits, as well as an in-track handling course that is over 5.5km long.

The main oval also has flat, unbanked corners and surrounded by smaller tracks with corrugated surfaces.

South of the main circuit is a smaller oval track with banked corners and corrugated surfaces.

Entering the site from the west, you’ll see a track that breaks off from the main path, leading to a handling course with hairpin turns.

The proving ground has seen its fair share of iconic vehicles over the years, from the Bugatti Veyron to the Toyota Hilux GR-Sport, Rolls-Royce Spectre, and VW ID.3.

Even though it has a very important role in the automotive industry (or possibly because of it), the track has been hidden from the public for almost 20 years, according to MyBroadband.

It allegedly had protected airspace, and satellite images kept it until from view until recently.

A few years ago, the proving ground was found on Google Earth, giving motorists their first glimpse of the secret facility.

It is located approximately 30km south of the N14 in the Northern Cape.

The area was chosen due to its unique conditions, as the arid landscape experiences high temperatures and a significant amount of dust, making it ideal for stress-testing new vehicles designed for hotter climates.

South Africa’s 250km/h highway

The proving ground is not the only interesting motoring landmark in the region, as a 120km stretch of the nearby N14 features South Africa’s “250km/h” highway.

Located between Pofadder and Kakamas, this stretch of road is also used by carmakers to test their latest products at speeds of more than double the national highway speed limit of 120km/h.

While the beginning and end of the route are marked with yellow caution signs, it is not an open invitation for motorists to test the limits of their cars, as only authorised persons are permitted to exceed the normal speed limit.

Manufacturers and car enthusiasts who wish to make use of the road’s unique status must obtain approval from the local traffic authorities.

For everyone else, the standard 120km/h speed limit still applies.

Anyone who does use the road at higher speeds must display a bright yellow “High-Speed Test Vehicle Approved by Government” sticker.

The road itself is in excellent condition owing to the area’s low population density and minimal rainfall.

Daimler Proving Ground