Roy Hesketh Circuit
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| Location | Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal |
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| Coordinates | 29°37′23″S 30°25′32″E / 29.62306°S 30.42556°ECoordinates: 29°37′23″S 30°25′32″E / 29.62306°S 30.42556°E |
| Opened | 1953 |
| Closed | 1981 |
| Major events | Motor Racing, Stock Cars, Dirt Bike Speedway & Karting |
| Length | 2.902 km (1.803 mi) |
| Lap record | 59.57 (John Love, Team Gunston, 1969) |
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. 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 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, Mike Grant, Rod Grey and Syd Stacy were regular competitors at the circuit as were John Love, Jackie Pretorius, Sam Tingle and 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 1981 after only 28 years.
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. Miles Crerar founded the Pietermarizburg Stockcar and Speedway Supporters Club. Most drivers were local, such as Clive and Nigel Owen of the Owen Bros Stockcar Clan, Alyn Woodley, Allan Hoy, Colin Clarke, Llew Futter, Gareth Bailey, Margaret Tyrer, Witty Boast, Bunny Dique, Lez Bromfield and Chris Currey.
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