Although the Western Cape town of Knysna is famed for many festivals, one is fast becoming a headline attraction for enthusiasts of the motoring kind – the annual Knysna Speed Festival.
The event had only just started out as a hillclimb in 2009, when it attracted relatively small numbers – but nonetheless sparked intrigue into the minds of motorsport lovers nationwide, and hence it grew massively in 2010. This year, the organisers have opted to celebrate with a weeklong speed festival, with the Renault Knysna Hillclimb as the event’s climax on the 21-22 May.
Fans may note that the event has been moved from October to May – the reason for the switch being that the weather is more stable and predictable during this time. Last year, many of the faster vehicles could only run at a fraction of their pace because of the wet conditions.
Hopefully, Mother Nature will look kindly on this year’s festival, which starts on Friday 13 -Saturday 14 May with a Kart Grand Prix night race much in the likeness of the Singapore F1 Grand Prix. Run on Thesen Island Harbour Town, the race will count for both Western Province and Eastern province regional championships. On Sunday 15 May the Garden Route Motor Club’s car show will be held at the Knysna High School Sports field, boasting numerous classic and displays from the local motor trade.
From Monday 16 to Wednesday 18 May, there will also be a slot car challenge at the Knysna Slot Car Club’s premises – the details of which still have to be finalised. Thursday 19 May is a charity golf day at the Simola Golf and Country Estate. On Friday 20 May, 20 local schools will compete in a Soapbox Derby – in kits supplied by local businesses, but ultimately assembled, painted and piloted by children down a section of the Simola Hill.
There will also be a parade of all the cars participating in the event through town, before being paraded in the Knysna Waterfront. The headline attraction for the Speed Festival is the Renault Knysna Hillclimb, which takes place on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 May.
Run up a two kilometre course to the entrance of the Simola Estate, the hillclimb is expected to attract star drivers such as Sarel van der Merwe and Geoff Mortimer (both previous winners) as well as Ian and Jaki Scheckter, Robbie Smith and Grant McCleery. Former motorcross world champion Jean-Michel Bayle will make his way from France to compete as well.
Title sponsor Renault will also use the event to launch the Clio Renault Sport Gordini, a special model of the Clio RS that celebrates the company's proud Gordini motorsports heritage.
“We are extremely pleased that Renault has once again joined us as the title sponsor of the Knysna Hillclimb. It was thanks to the company’s support that last year’s event was rated as one of the highlights of the local motorsport calendar. With Renault’s continued backing we aim to improve the event still further as we strive to provide competitors and spectators alike with a unique and enjoyable motorsport entertainment experience,” says organiser Ian Shrosbree.
Entries for the hillclimb are now open, but are limited to 80 cars this year. Documentation and scrutineering will take place on the Friday (20 May)with proceedings open to the public, and all of the competing cars will take part in the town parade
Further information and entry forms can be found on the festival’s website www.speedfestival.co.za
