KNYSNA NEWS - It's finally Simola Hillclimb time, and the 15th edition of South Africa's premier motoring and motorsport lifestyle event promises more of everything – more spectacular cars, even more intense competition, non-stop adrenaline and action, and endless fun and excitement for spectators beyond the cars racing up the 1.9km Simola Hill. This year's edition of the Simola Hillclimb takes place from 1 to 4 May.
Scrutineering and FanFest
The action kicks off today, Thursday 1 May, with the Classic Car Friday scrutineering and FanFest in Hedge Street near the Knysna Waterfront, followed by the parade of the golden oldies along Waterfront Drive at 14:45.
Access to the scrutineering and Knysna Parade is free and this is a fantastic opportunity to get a close-up peek at the cars and drivers.
Classic Car Friday
The Classic Car Friday programme commences at 08:00 on 2 May with the first of three practice sessions, followed by three qualifying runs leading up to the lunchtime break.
The top three competitors from the qualifying runs in each class go head-to-head in the Class Finals in the afternoon.
Top 10 Shootout
Then it’s on to the all-or-nothing Top 10 Shootout where each of the 10 fastest qualifiers has one final sprint up the hill to decide who is crowned Classic Conqueror for 2025.
The prize-giving ceremony will be held next to the start line after the final shootout is complete.
King of the Hill
The big guns come out for King of the Hill, with the two-day event preceded on Friday 2 May by the scrutineering, FanFest and the King of the Hill Parade starting at 17:15.
Access is free for these activities, and spectators can expect lots of wild tyre-smoking action.
Saturday
Saturday’s King of the Hill schedule comprises four practice sessions that begin at 09:05 and carry on through to the lunch break. The first three qualifying sessions in the afternoon wrap up the first day of King of the Hill.
Sunday
The competition heats up on Sunday, which starts with a warm-up run at 09:05 before the final three qualifying rounds. The fastest qualifiers from all six sessions determine who will be the top three competitors that proceed to the Class Finals, as well as the overall fastest times for the Top 10 Shootout.
The Class Finals are scheduled for 14:05, followed by the King of the Hill shootouts for the three separate categories: Road Car and Supercar, Modified Saloon Car, and Single Seater and Sports Car. Prize-giving once again takes place next to the start line once the final runs are completed.
Entertainment galore
Aside from the thrilling antics on the tight and twisty 1.9km Simola Hillclimb course throughout the weekend, there are plenty of other activities and highlights to keep fans enthralled.
Suzuki Auto South Africa will showcase a variety of its two and four-wheeled products and will have a fan-focused activation in Gasoline Alley that shouldn’t be missed.
Spectators can look forward to a variety of demonstrations and display runs between the sessions. The afternoon break each day features a full programme of spectacular cars and motorcycles from several top-tier automotive brands sprinting up the hill, along with tyre-shedding drift cars.
Volkswagen Group South Africa
Volkswagen Group South Africa is going all-out at the Simola Hillclimb this year, including bringing seven-time World Rallycross champion Johan Kristoffersson to compete in King of the Hill in the all-electric, title-winning Polo RX1e.
The Swedish ace will have a busy weekend, as he will also be doing spectacular demo runs in the 2016 Volkswagen Polo R WRC – the very car that won the World Rally Championship that year in the hands of Sebastian Ogier.
World-renowned stunt driver Terry Grant will be returning to the Simola Hillclimb once again, following his 2018 outing which wowed the crowds. His participation this year is courtesy of Volkswagen, and he will be driving a showroom-specification Polo up the Simola Hill – on two wheels!
Simola Hillclimb merchandise
To further enhance the Simola Hillclimb experience, the event’s exciting new merchandise range will be on sale in the Pit Vendor Area, as well as Gasoline Alley, where attendees can buy official Simola Hillclimb caps and shirts.
And, talking of vendors, as always there will be a superb range of food and beverages on sale to suit all tastes. As a child-friendly event, the Simola Hillclimb caters for all ages, and a play area with a jumping castle will be available to keep the little ones entertained.
Monster
Monster is back once again to pump energy into the Simola Hillclimb with its activation at Turn 2. ORMS will be hosting a photographic deck adjacent to the Turn 2 Grandstand, which is accessible to all ticketholders and will help enthusiastic photographers obtain the best shots of the action.
For the most breathtaking view of the Simola Hillclimb, and Knysna in general, you simply can’t beat a helicopter flip. AER Helicopters is offering scenic flights throughout the weekend, with options of a flight above the event, then sweeping across the Knysna lagoon to the Heads and back. A VIP option is also available that adds a low-level coastal flight past Buffalo Bay and Brenton-on-Sea. Bookings are made directly with AER Helicopters, which will have a gazebo at the end of the pit lane.
Full-action livestream
Local and international enthusiasts who aren’t able to attend this year’s Simola Hillclimb can follow all the action via the livestream, which is free to access via the website, www.simolahillclimb.com
The broadcast covers all three days, ensuring that you don’t miss any of the excitement and intense competition, and is hosted by expert presenters including Rodrigo de Oliviera from Portugal, who runs Hillclimb Monsters.
The livestream will include several innovations this year, including in-car footage from some of the top competitors, as well as expanded pit lane coverage that incorporates the amazing sights and sounds of this unique event.
More information and online ticket sales are available on the Simola Hillclimb website: www.simolahillclimb.com
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