Bezuidenhout crowns perfect Hillclimb weekend

KNYSNA NEWS - A now six-time King of the Hill winner, André Bezuidenhout today rounded out the perfect weekend for him and his Team Perfect Circle outfit.

Having started off by winning the Classic Conqueror title on Friday, a time of 37,580 seconds up a wet Simola Hill saw him reign supreme in the Single Seater and Sports Prototypes Shootout this afternoon.

After two days of nothing but perfect weather and racing conditions, some overnight rain on Saturday night coupled with sporadic rain throughout Sunday meant that it would be a wet and tricky end to the Hillclimb weekend. This didn’t seem to dishearten the drivers though, as nobody spared a split-second to think of holding back, leading to some great times in spite of the conditions.

One of the most notable performances came courtesy of Simola Hillclimb debutant and WRC and WRX champion Petter Solberg. The Norwegian driver showcased his intent from the get-go yesterday, and left it all on the track today. In the B3 class final he crossed the timing beams in 43,383 seconds, which while not his best time of the weekend, was enough for him to be crowned victor in his class.

He went even better in the Modified Saloon Cars Shootout though, where he finished third in a time of 41,281 seconds. He was behind two legends of the category, second-placed Reghard Roets (40,539 seconds) and Franco Scribante, who earned his fifth King of the Hill win in the Modified Saloon Cars category with a time of 39,877 second. This is his fifth King of the Hill title, and his 11th overall title when combined with his Classic Conqueror wins, keeping him as the most successful driver in Simola Hillclimb history.

In the Road-Going Saloons and Supercars Shootout, JP van der Walt was a man on a mission. Finishing in a time of 44,991 seconds he was 2,630 seconds ahead of his closest competitor and won his third straight King of the Hill title in this category. Garth Mackintosh placed second with a time of 47.621 seconds while former Formula 1 driver and Hillclimb debutant Mika Salo was one place further adrift having clocked a time of 47,876 seconds in the shootout.

But, as expected, the best times of the day were yet to come in the Single Seater and Sports Prototypes Shootout. André Bezuidenhout proved to be in a league of his own. With Robert Wolk out of contention after his engine blew in qualifying six this morning, no one could come within touching distance of the man behind the wheel of the 2007 Gould GR55.

Negotiating some wet and cooling track conditions, Bezuidenhout didn’t hold back in his final run and blitzed his way up the 1,9km Simola Hill in a time of 37,580 seconds. While also not his fastest time of the weekend, it was more than enough to secure his sixth consecutive King of the Hill victory. Devin Robertson was the closest to him, but could only muster a 40,794-second time to finish second in the category. Andre Rackstraw rounded out the podium places with a time of 41,589 seconds.

With that, the 2023 Simola Hillclimb has come to an end, and competitors and fans alike are already looking forward to what may lie in wait for them at the 2024 Simola Hillclimb.

André Bezuidenhout takes on the straight after turn two in his final run of the weekend.