KNYSNA NEWS - The Simola Hillclimb will reach a major milestone in 2025 when the 15th edition of this now iconic event will be held in Knysna from 1 to 4 May.
To mark this special occasion, and promote what is likely to be the biggest and most spectacular edition yet, the Simola Hillclimb is launching a contemporary new logo and identity that elevates it to even greater heights, and sets an exciting tone for the years to come.
First held in 2009, the Simola Hillclimb started from humble beginnings and has rapidly grown and evolved each year to become South Africa's premier motoring and motorsport lifestyle event.
Thanks to its superb location in Knysna, the exceptional organisation and the extremely high calibre of cars - from iconic golden oldies to outrageously powerful and fast road and race cars, including hillclimb monsters purpose-built for this event - the Simola Hillclimb is now considered amongst the top hillclimb events in the world.
Star drivers
This top-level status has attracted star drivers from the world of Formula 1, World Rally Championship and World Rallycross, along with world-renowned celebrities and Springbok rugby champions.
"It's remarkable to think where the Simola Hillclimb started in 2009 as a simple idea and vision that I shared with Chick Ramsay and Francis Cusens to bring visitors to Knysna post the 2008 financial crisis, compared to where it is today," says Ian Shrosbree, co-founder and MD of the Knysna Speed Festival, which owns the Simola Hillclimb.
'Huge milestone'
"Reaching the 15th edition next year is a huge milestone, and we had no idea that this event would grow to this level of support, stature and popularity, locally and overseas.
New logo
"Throughout this journey, we have continually evolved the Simola Hillclimb each year to keep it exciting and entertaining for the drivers and the fans alike, including our fast-growing global audience thanks to our full livestream coverage."
Classic car
The original logo for the Knysna Simola Hillclimb was a copy of a classic car cornering at speed from the 1931 South African Grand Prix programme.
Using this as the logo for the inaugural event in 2009 was inspired by Shrosbree's event programme from the Goodwood Festival of Speed that he attended a decade earlier. The logo was then modernised for the third event and has remained the same for the past 13 years.
"Although this image has become synonymous with the Simola Hillclimb, it was never designed as a logo, and was in fact limited in how and where we could use it," Shrosbree says.
"The new Simola Hillclimb logo broadens both the appeal and versatility of the artwork, from distinctive branding opportunities to creating sought-after merchandise, and it's an exciting new era for the Simola Hillclimb, starting with the 15th edition next year."
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