Starting today, Knysna will come alive with the sound of rip-roaring race and road cars for the 14th edition of the Simola Hillclimb, South Africa’s premier motoring and motorsport event.
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Between 9am and 2:30pm today, enthusiasts will see a wide range of classic cars on Hedge Street. From 2:45pm to 3:15pm, race cars will be displayed alongside the popular Classic Car Friday Parade along Waterfront Drive.
On Friday, the 1.9km Simola Hill will host some adrenaline-fuelled excitement, starting with three practice sessions for the Classic Car Friday competitors, followed by three qualifying rounds.
Spectators can look forward to demonstrations, including Monster-supported South African Car Park Drift champion Jim Macfarlane and Suzuki, BMW and racing motorcycle demo runs and hot laps in various cars with guests.
The Class Finals and all-or-nothing Top 10 Shootout will determine who takes the crown as Classic Conqueror for 2024. The prize-giving ceremony will take place in the pitlane shortly after the final shootout.
Scrutineering for the King of the Hill competitors will take place on Friday at the Hedge Street venue from 8am to 2:30pm while Fan Fest activities and race car displays will entertain visitors.
Keep an eye out for lots of tyre-smoking antics during the Parade on Waterfront Drive between 5:15pm and 5:45pm.
King of the Hill starts on Saturday 3 May at 9:05am with four practice sessions. Fans can also look forward to seeing the 1992 Sasol-sponsored Jordan 192 Formula 1 car, which will perform demonstration runs on Simola Hill.
The car, now owned by Ian Schofield, was raced by Stefano Modena in the 1992 South African Grand Prix at Kyalami.
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Sunday morning will open with a warm-up at 9:05am, followed by three final qualifying opportunities that will determine which three competitors will make it into the Class Finals after the lunch break.
The top qualifying times across all six sessions will also decide who the finalists are for the Top 10 Shootouts. The King of the Hill titles will be determined from the best times across three categories, namely Road Cars and Supercars, Modified Saloon Cars, Single Seaters and Sports Cars.
The event also offers various family-friendly activities and attractions, including food and beverage stalls, exhibitors and vendors in the Spectator Hubs, the Monster Energy Rig Riot and activations at Turn 2 on Saturday and Sunday.
Fans can try their hand at racing with the ATK Esports Racing simulator, which features a virtual world and win track experience. Helicopter rides offering views of the Simola Hillclimb and Knysna Heads, as well as scenic views of the Garden Route mountains and Knysna estuary, will also be available.
This year, PG Glass is sponsoring free shuttles to spectators, making the trek along the ground from the parking areas to the main attractions easier and more convenient.
The Simola Hillclimb will again be livestreamed this year. You can watch it live on Speed Festival. The livestream will be hosted by radio DJ and F1 presenter Sasha Martinengo and Cars.co.za presenter Ciro de Siena.
Details:
- Date: Thursday, 2 May to Sunday, 5 May
- Location: Knysna Simola Hillclimb, Old Cape Road, Knysna
- Tickets: speedfestival.co.za
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Picture: Speed Festival Gallery