Late last week, news that Jaguar Land Rover South Africa was to sponsor this year’s Simola Hillclimb, which is part of the Knysna Speed Festival, must have been music to the ears of enthusiasts countrywide who were disappointed that last year’s event was cancelled at the last moment due to the previous title sponsor pulling out on short notice.
The hillclimb, centerpiece of the Speed Festival Festivities, has gained prominence on the South African motorsport calendar in its five-year existence, attracting only the fastest production, modified and racing cars to the Garden Route town.
But the festival is not only geared for speed junkies, as the myriad of events that happen in and around the town for the week running up to 18 May will cater for a broad mix of motoring enthusiasts.
“The Simola Hillclimb is custom-made for Jaguar, a brand which not only has an incredibly rich heritage but an impressive current line-up and an equally exciting future. We are thrilled to be the headline sponsor of an event which pays homage to the past but is firmly rooted in the present,” Says Jaguar Land Rover South Africa and sub-Sahara Africa Managing Director Kevin Flynn,
Jaguar has committed to the event for the next three years, reportedly with the “intention of powering it into the same league as the Durban July horse race and Sun City’s Million Dollar golf tournament.”
“We are incredibly excited to have Jaguar on board as the title sponsor as there is no doubt that it will mark a turning point for the event and lift it to a new level. Jaguar and the Simola Hillclimb are a perfect fit for each other, both representing the finer things in the automotive world,” says event director Ian Shrosbee.
