The Jaguar Simola Hillclimb has crowned its first-ever two-time King of the Hill winner, as Franco Scribante produced a dominant display and set an all-new record of 38.646 seconds.
Scribante this year repeated his 2014 double of claiming both the Classic Car Friday and King of the Hill titles.
In the lightweight 1972 Chevron B26, Scribante set the fastest time of the weekend in the final one-lap run. He covered the 1.9 km course 1.678 seconds faster than Des Gutzeit (running a modified Nissan GT-R) at an average speed of 176.991 km/h from a standing start.
His challenge wasn’t without drama, and it nearly ended in disaster when the suspension failed on the Chevron during the fourth qualifying session on Sunday morning, sending the car off the course at high speed at the end of the main straight.
But the Scribante Racing team managed to repair the Chevron and put it back into contention for the sixth and final qualifying run.
In addition, Scribante grabbed his second Classic Conqueror title on Classic Car Friday in a 1970 Chevron B19.
“We had a good weekend right until the crash, having set a best time of 38.8 seconds in Q3, and I was very nervous going out on the final qualifying run to check if the car was alright,” Scribante said.
“When Des went out and did the 40.9 seconds I thought the track had become slower, and I wasn’t sure I could break 40 seconds again.
“I decided that final shootout would be do-or-die stuff, and I would either be on the top step of the podium or in the bushes. Fortunately, we got it all together and managed to set a new record on the last run. I really want to thank my entire team for their hard work in preparing and then fixing the car.”
“I know you need a bit of luck but I’ll take it any way it comes, and this really is a dream result,” he said.
Gutzeit was gracious in defeat with a best time of 40.324 seconds.
“We gave it everything we could, and I simply couldn’t go any faster. The car performed faultlessly, but there was simply no way we could match Franco’s pace in our heavier tin-top car,” said Gutzeit.
Other than Gutzeit in the rip-roaring GT-R, there was also a strong challenge from two single-seater contenders during the practice and qualifying – both newcomers to the Jaguar Simola Hillclimb.
Multiple single-seater champion Robert Wolk set an impressive pace right from the start in a 2004 Formula Renault V6, and managed consistent sub-40-second times in all four of the final qualifying sessions, with a best of 39.538 seconds.
Unfortunately, he ran wide in Turn 2 in the Class Finals and crashed heavily into the tyre barriers. He was unhurt, but this put an abrupt end to his weekend.
André Bezuidenhout was equally impressive in the popular Dallara Formula 1 car, qualifying third for the Top 10 shootout on 39.781 seconds. Sadly, a failed engine crankshaft sensor brought his campaign to a halt during Q5.
“I had a fantastic weekend, and there was very little between Franco, Robert and I as we were all in the 39s this morning,” Bezuidenhout said.
“It’s disappointing to go out this way, but where do you find a replacement Magneti Marelli crank sensor that was made in 1989? Certainly not in Knysna, and even if we had one, you have to take the engine out to replace it.
“It’s very unfortunate but the whole event was superb. I’ll be back next year, you can bet on it.”
Anton Cronje wrapped up the King of the Hill three-place podium in his modified Subaru Impreza WRX (42.564 seconds), ousting fourth-placed Wilhelm Baard in the factory-backed Nissan GT-R by just 0.181 seconds.
Meanwhile, Jaki Scheckter was the stand-out performer in the new Super Car Shootout field for showroom-specification sportscars and supercars in the factory-backed Nissan GT-R. He set a time of 43.591 seconds to take victory.
Dawie Olivier powered a Jaguar F-Type R Coupé AWD to second overall on 45.183 seconds, while Ernst du Preez was third in his McLaren 650s (45.826 seconds).
