RACE! And Beyond
There is a phrase that comes up repeatedly when Marco Casciani, owner of RACE! South Africa, speaks about the business:
“Do it properly.”
It sounds simple. But after three decades spent around some of the world’s finest motorcycles, performance cars, supercars and hypercars, it has become something closer to a philosophy.
It means the workshop matters. The tools matter. The technicians matter. The engineering matters. The smallest detail matters.
And now, with the opening of RACE!’s new 11,000m² home in Sandton, that philosophy has an environment built entirely around it.
But the story begins somewhere considerably smaller.
From a garden cottage to Europe
Casciani’s journey into the automotive world began in 1996.
Fresh out of high school, he pursued mechanical engineering while finding himself involved in a growing pizza business. The business was successful, but something else had captured his attention: motorcycles.
A small garden cottage on his parents’ property became an early workshop, where a fascination with mechanical things quickly evolved into an obsession with motorcycles, engineering and performance.
Eventually, Casciani made a decision that would shape everything that followed. He sold his shares in the growing pizza business and headed to Italy, where he immersed himself in motorcycle racing and one of the most advanced automotive cultures in the world.
What followed was almost a decade of European experience , learning, competing, working and, in his words, “paying school fees.”
It was there that Casciani developed a deep appreciation for European standards of engineering, craftsmanship, precision and quality.
By 2004, RACE! as it is recognised today had formally taken shape.
More than two decades later, those principles remain embedded in the business.
Built in South Africa. Respected internationally.
Today, RACE! is widely recognised for pushing the boundaries of luxury, performance, supercar and hypercar customisation.
RACE! has transformed some of the world’s most extraordinary vehicles, from carefully considered wheel, suspension and exhaust upgrades to complete aerodynamic, performance and bespoke builds.
Supporting that capability are long-standing relationships with some of the most respected names in global automotive performance, including BRABUS, NOVITEC, TECHART, MANSORY, VOSSEN and many more.
These are more than supplier relationships.
They have been built over years of delivering work at standards expected by the international brands themselves.
That trust is significant because, at RACE!, a build cannot simply look extraordinary. Aerodynamics, suspension, power, wheel fitment, materials, electronics and craftsmanship need to work together.
It has helped establish RACE! as a South African automotive company capable of delivering at an international level.
Doing it properly
For Casciani, quality extends far beyond the finished vehicle.
When a client entrusts a multi-million-rand vehicle to RACE! Sometimes for an equally significant build, the environment surrounding that vehicle becomes just as important.
Cleanliness. Organisation. Correct tooling. Skilled technicians. Proper procedures. Care.
It is why “do it properly” extends from how a vehicle is engineered to how the workshop floor is maintained.
RACE! is built for the discerning client who owns something special and expects it to be treated accordingly.
And that philosophy ultimately led to the creation of its most ambitious project yet.
The new home of RACE!
Located on the corner of Grayston Drive and 145 Katherine Street in Sandton, the new 11,000m² RACE! facility represents a significant evolution of the business.
At its heart is a state-of-the-art workshop designed to deliver everything from servicing and maintenance to complex end-to-end customisation and the boundary-pushing builds upon which RACE! established its reputation.
A dedicated design studio expands those capabilities into vehicle wraps, detailing, paint protection film and bespoke visual treatments.
The facility also introduces a luxury vehicle concierge and storage service, allowing owners to place important vehicles into specialist care with 24/7 monitoring, facial-recognition entrance points and oversight from expert technicians.
A dedicated luxury car wash further extends the philosophy of meticulous automotive care.
But the new RACE! is designed to go far beyond the traditional workshop.
An entire world under one roof
The new headquarters brings together automotive performance, motorcycles, art, fashion, watches, design and hospitality.
Ducati Johannesburg, operating under the RACE! umbrella as the master dealer and flagship Ducati dealership in Africa, brings one of the world’s most celebrated motorcycle brands into the heart of the destination.
It is a fitting evolution for a story that began with Casciani’s own obsession with motorcycles.
Beyond the automotive world, Luxury Time will showcase exceptional timepieces, while Scapegoat Gallery introduces contemporary art into the environment.
RACE! SPACES takes personalisation beyond the vehicle, designing premium garages, man caves and bespoke lifestyle environments.
Love Maison 33, Purveyors of Luxury, brings together premium clothing, footwear, accessories and other luxury goods.
And CORSA Café, an Italian-forward café, creates a hospitality experience at the centre of it all.
The result is something intentionally difficult to categorise.
Part workshop. Part showroom. Part dealership. Part design house. Part gallery. Part lifestyle destination.
Entirely RACE!.
The next chapter
Despite its scale, the new facility is not intended to suggest that RACE! has suddenly arrived.
It represents the next stage of a journey that has been developing for decades.
The ambition is to demonstrate what is possible when South African automotive craftsmanship is combined with international experience, world-class brands, specialist infrastructure and an uncompromising approach to quality.
From servicing a vehicle to completely transforming one, RACE! wants to become the destination for discerning owners who simply want their machines treated properly.
What started in a small garden cottage has grown into an 11,000m² statement of intent in Sandton.
Yet, perhaps most importantly, the RACE! story still feels like it is only getting started.
Welcome to the next chapter of RACE! South Africa.
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