While Formula 1 is off to the streets of Miami, where drivers and spectators alike will be greeted by cardboard representations of ocean water, the iconic Simola Hillclimb is set to host its 14th running. An event, which by now has become synonymous with South-African motorsport, sees racers with all kinds of machinery, take on a 1.9km hill, with the Knysna Heads and the Indian ocean as a backdrop.
Photos: Simola Hillclimb
Spectators from around the World (yes this will be livestreamed on www.simolahillclimb.com ) will be able to watch as spectacular historic cars, bakkies, sedans, hot hatchbacks, modified saloons, and even single seaters race up the hill.
And the 2024 winner is … ?
Wednesday evening saw headlines flash up as André Bezuidenhout from Team Perfect Circle announced that his record-holding Gould would be retiring due to a broken cam shaft. With almost ideal weather conditions predicted for the Sunday running, all eyes were on Bezuidenhout to see if the Gould could break its own 34.161 second record, set in 2022. Whilst the 6-time winner of this event will not race on Sunday, both André and his son, Jandré will race in the Classic Car Friday event.
The 2024 event is therefore set to see a new King of the Hill, with the likes of Franco Scribante, Robert Wolk, Devin Robertson, and Reghard Roets, being some of the favourites to take the title.
Suzuki once again one of the title sponsors
For the fourth year running, Suzuki South Africa will once again be one of the Simola Hillclimb title sponsors. Coming from it’s very successful 2023, in which they climbed the sales ladder to second overall, the brand will once again showcase why so many love this brand.
Not necessarily aiming to break the overall record, Suzuki will once again race with three identical Suzuki Swift Sport models to showcase that everyone can have competitive fun, even at a reasonable price.
Talking about competitive; the three Swift Sports will be driven by newcomers, Brendon Staniforth and Thomas Falkiner, as well as the Suzuki veteran, Wesley Greybe. While the latter will compete in his 5th Simola Hillclimb, Staniforth has a year of racing (as well as a race win) under his belt, while Falkiner has been racing in different categories since 2009.
These three might have a friendly comradery with one another, but one thing is for sure; once those helmets are closed, the adrenaline will kick in. Each of these three drivers will aim to take top honours in the A1 class.
It takes all sorts …
We all know the saying. Well, the 14th running of the Simola Hillclimb will have everything (apart from racing trucks and donkeys).
The C class will see several single seaters, ranging from Formula VW, to Lotus’, a Shelby and a Cobra. The B class will once again see the return of Reghard Roets in his Nissan GTR R35, which will be one of four, followed by several other Nissan R32 and 34’s. This class will also see several BMWs, Audi’s, a Porsche, Volkswagens, Hondas, Subaru’s and Lotus’. This class will also see the return of Mike Verrier, eager to take on the hill with his powerful BMW Z4, with a 7L Chev LS7 engine.
The A class will also see numerous Shelby’s, BMWs, Porsche’s, and Suzuki’s, whlist the A8 class will see two Mercedes-AMG hybrids and two BMW electric vehicles (one being driven by a hydrogen fuel cell).
Catch the action live from all over the World
The 14th running of the event will see the Classic Car Friday running on the Friday as is customary. Saturday will start at 09:00 and see the first qualifying heats run until 16:45, whilst the Sunday action will run from 09:00 – 15:35. Those, unable to attend the event themselves, will be happy to know that a livestream channel will run on www.simolahillclimb.com