South Africa’s biggest motoring festival taking place next month – What to expect

The Festival of Motoring is making a triumphant return to South Africa next month, giving car enthusiasts the opportunity to view and drive all the latest models, from bakkies to supercars.

The eighth edition of the festival will once again be held at the iconic Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit in Midrand, Gauteng.

It will be held over three days from Friday 29 to Sunday 31 August 2025, and tickets are now available for booking online at Howler.co.za.

Ticket prices for the 2025 Festival of Motoring are as follows:

• General Access: – R295.00
• General Access: Children under 4 years – Free
• General Access: Children 4 – 12 years – R82.00
• General Access: Pensioner 65+ years – R260.00
• Weekend Pass – R750.00
• Weekend Pass: Pensioner 65+ years – R665.00

Note that the general access tickets are only valid for the day they are booked, so a Friday ticket will not be valid if used on a Saturday.

Visitors can also purchase a VIP or Hospitality ticket that grants access to a premium lounge on the top floor of the main Kyalami building.

The ticket price also includes a hot lap experience in a high-performance vehicle, and access to the open bar and catering service at the lounge.

Alternatively, there is a “Chill Pod” experience located at Platform 2 near the Skidpan, granting easy access to the karting, drifting, and children’s experiences.

This includes a complementary lunch and non-alcoholic drinks, as well as additional snacks for children under the age of 12.

The Hospitality ticket prices are as follows:

• Santam Premium Hospitality + hot lap – R4,200
• Santam Premium Hospitality (no hot lap) – R2,200
• Santam Chill Pod: Children under 5 years – Free
• Santam Chill Pod: Children 5 – 12 years – R350
• Santam Chill Pod: Children 5 – 12 years – R350
• Santam Chill Pod: Persons over 12 years – R850

These prices are also valid only for the day on which they are booked.

What to expect

The Festival of Motoring is a three-day event where South African carmakers gather to show off their latest models.

The event is a chance to check out upcoming vehicles from major brands, covering everything from bakkies and SUVs to the most exclusive supercars.

Visitors can even get behind the wheel at the smaller test track to try out a number of recently released models, and there’s a dedicated 4×4 area where people can put the credentials of their favourite off-roaders to the test.

Individuals can spectate professional drivers as they race around the main circuit, and they can even join the drivers at the pits for a hotlap where they are taken around the track at breakneck speeds.

The weekend’s entertainment is not solely limited to cars, either, as there is a live entertainment venue with food, drink, and merchandise vendors.

You can also find racing sim, go kart, and children’s play areas, making the event a fun day out for the whole family.

Free parking is available at Kyalami, however, it is fairly limited and quickly fills up.

Visitors also have the option to park at the nearby Mall of Africa, as there is a free shuttle service taking people back and forth from the venue all day.

The shuttle departs from Entrance 6 and 8 at the mall.