Gravel Kings Drag Fest was initially conceived by the Cape Route Rally team – Antony Ashely & Louis Smit
Gravel Kings has various strategic partnerships within Cape Route Rally to give it the full strength it requires to offer world class Drag Racing to all of our competitors as well as for the spectators. Speak to us today to book your accommodation at the next Gravel Kings Drag Fest.
Cape Route Rally unlocks the best driving roads both on and off-road in the Western Cape, South Africa. Come with us on an epic Rally or 4×4 Challenge to drive, explore and soak in the best Mountain Passes, Coastal Roads, 4×4 Trails and Hill Side Tarmac on a route that is jam packed with Big Game Drives, Motor Museums, Sunset Dinners on a Floating Restaurant, Sand Dune 4x4ing, Craft Beer & Wineries, Whale Watching & Shark Cage Diving and much more… it’s all you ever wanted from SA in one trip. Cape Route Rally unlocks the adventure for overseas tour businesses looking to expand their offerings and provides the ‘on-the-ground’ logistics.
Antony Ashley – Director
Cape Route Rally was initially conceived and founded by Antony Ashely—a petrolhead through and through.
Antony’s automotive business experience began with a luxury car rental company founded in the early 2000s. It was here that his initial passion for ‘people and cars’ flourished, as he set up high-end tours for discerning tourists visiting Cape Town and its surrounds.
From there, he moved overseas to live, work, and race at the mighty Nürburgring in Germany. As the manager of the largest track day rental company in Europe—RSR Nurburg and RSR Spa collectively—Antony focused on adding value to the client experience both on and off the track. Many new tours were introduced, allowing clients to choose from a variety of baseline options to tailored itineraries.
Among the international tourists flocking to the Ring, South Africans also flew to Germany and Belgium to join Antony, who served as a local tour guide and on-track coach.
These days, Antony is back in South Africa, still in the automotive industry, now running his vehicle shipping company, car sales company, and making trips to the Ring and Spa for clients. Cape Route Rally is in the line-up, born from a passion for sharing motoring experiences—this time, showcasing the best the Western Cape has to offer.
We have various strategic partnerships within CRR to give it the full strength required to offer the world-class road rallies that international visitors expect. Speak to us today to start planning your Cape Route Rally.
Louis Smit – Local Ops
Louis Smit is an adventurer at heart. He has been hard at work in the 4×4 sector long before it gained popularity in South Africa. Renowned for building tough products for 4x4s at his engineering firm, he tests them in the wild alongside friends willing to push their vehicles to the extreme. Highly experienced, knowledgeable, and respected in these circles.
Gordon Burchell – Event Director
A lifelong 4×4 enthusiast, Gordon Burchell has spent years immersed in South Africa’s off-road community, participating in numerous Cape Route Rally’s and building strong relationships throughout the industry.
As Event Director of Gravel Kings, Gordon has been instrumental in bringing the event to life over the past two editions. From planning to live commentary and competitor interviews, his hands-on approach and passion for motorsport help create an exciting experience for everyone involved. His vision is to establish Gravel Kings as South Africa’s leading celebration of off-road adventure, motorsport and outdoor lifestyle.