73
December 2013
CONSTRUCTION WORLD
Professional Services
C
Top Gear internal race track for Moses
Mabhida Stadium
T
he design and implementation of the Top Gear Track within
the Moses Mabhida Stadium was completed within time and
budget. It facilitated one of South Africa’s most successful Top
Gear events and helped showcase Durban and South Africa as aworld
class destination.
The project included detailed design of the internal track align-
ment, pavement layerworks and stormwater system. The track align-
ment needed to accommodate the very high tolerances required for
high speed vehicles and ensure that there was no adverse effect to
the pitch (playing surface and run-off areas).
The pavement design had to include for stunt loading, future
events and with a micro texture which allowed for drifting. The struc-
tural strengthwas achieved through using relatively new technologies
which also allow for the surface to be buried in relatively wet condi-
tions without degrading.
Themicro structure of the finished surfacewas reduced to allow for
driftingof vehicles using a bitumenbasedproductwhichneeded tobe
black to accommodate aesthetic requirements of theTopGear Festival.
This project was unique in its requirements and allowed the ILISO
Consulting ‘s professional team to use the experience gained on
conventional civil engineering projects to produce a high quality, fit
for purpose race track within an operation Stadium, while increasing
the marketability of the stadium for future events.
ILISO Consulting was solely appointed by eThekwini Municipality
via the operators of the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
The complexity and subsequent sophistication on this project lies
in the unusual end user requirement, that is, a fit for purpose race
track, constructed within an extremely confined space that must be
able to accommodate stunt loading; drifting and high speed racing
without having an adverse effect on the playing pitch or the multi-
functionality of the stadium.
This was achieved through the use of a high strength asphalt
base, with a Salphalt, or structurally reinforced Open Graded Asphalt,
overlay that was treated with a roof waterproofing product to facili-
tate drifting. Further protection to the pitch was provided through
the installation of a dedicated drainage system around the track so
that stormwater run-off from the track did not utilise the same pipe
system required for the main pitch.
Project information
• Project name: Top Gear internal race track
for Moses Mabhida Stadium
• Company entering: ILISO Consulting
• Project start date: February 2012
• Project end date: July 2012
• Client: eThekwini Municipality and Moses
Mabhida Stadium
• Main contractor: Devtech Civils
• Project manager: eThekwini Strategic
Projects Unit
• Quantity surveyor: Devtech Civils
• Consulting engineer: ILISO Consulting
• Project value: R18-million
