Excitement is building for this year’s Jaguar Simola Hillclimb, which takes place in the picturesque Garden Route town of Knysna this weekend as part of the annual Knysna Speed Festival.
The 2 km run up Simola Hill has become one of the most prestigious events on the South African motorsport calendar, which has attracted such local racing legends as Sarel van der Merwe (who won the inaugural event in a V8 Masters racing Mustang) and Geoff Mortimer (who triumphed in 2010 behind the wheel of a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution). The following two years were Nissan GT-R affairs as Wilhelm Baard and Jade Gutzeit took top honours in 2011 and 2012 respectively.
After a hiatus in 2013, the Hillclimb returns thanks to the sponsorship of Jaguar, which will also be providing CAR’s own track test ace Deon Joubert with a XFR-S to pilot during the event. Joubert will be faced with tough opposition in the form of exotica like Lamborghini’s Aventador, McLaren’s new 650S, Porsche’s 991 911 Turbo S, Aston Martin’s V12 Vantage S and Ferrari’s 458 Italia driven by Greg Parton, Justin Divaris, Toby Venter, Rens Rademeyer and Garth Mackintosh.
The usual suspects like Dez Gutzeit, Darron Gudmanz and Wilhelm Baard will be there with their GT-Rs, as well as Anton Cronje and his vicious Subaru Impreza WRX. Defending champion Jade Gutzeit will drive a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 7, while Shane Naidu (who formerly used to drive an Audi S2) will also be driving an Evo.
While the King of the Hill action will only take place from Saturday, motorsport enthusiasts who are present a day earlier can enjoy the thrills of Classic Car Friday, in which older vehicles will also have a chance at glory. Such precious metal as Porsche’s 911 Carrera RS, a Jaguar E-Type, BMW CSi and Bugatti Type 37 will join the fray.
Watch Deon Joubert’s run up Simola Hill in 2012 behind the wheel of Jaguar’s XKR-S.
The 2014 Jaguar Simola Hillclimb takes place in Knysna from 16 to 18 May.