It is time to prepare the big guns for South Africa’s premier motoring and motorsport lifestyle event with the opening of applications to take part in this yearly event.
As a strictly invitational event, competitors are invited to submit their applications via the Simola Hillclimb website (www.simolahillclimb.com) which opened on 1 October. The closing date for applications is 31 January 2025, and successful applicants will be informed by 14 February.
The annual Simola Hillclimb will reach a major milestone next year when the 15th edition takes place in Knysna from 1 to 4 May 2025.
Having started from humble beginnings, this iconic event has continuously evolved since it was first held in 2009, and it attracts the most spectacular, powerful and fastest cars in South Africa, along with many of the country’s top racing drivers.
It has also expanded its reach internationally, both through the extremely popular livestream and with high-profile drivers such as WRC and WRX champion Petter Solberg, former F1 driver Mika Salo, two-time Daytona 24-Hour class winner, Randy Pobst and Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Open Wheel class winner, Cole Powelson, having competed in the event too – and many more have expressed their interest to attend.
The 2024 event drew more than 19 000 spectators and had almost 423 000 livestream views, of which 60 percent were local and 40 percent international.
The 15th Simola Hillclimb promises more thrills and action, and the best automotive showcase yet. Throughout the three days of competition, car enthusiasts are treated to a dazzling display of road and race cars of all types and eras being pushed to their limits in the search for Classic Conqueror and King of the Hill glory on the tight and technical 1.9 km Simola Hill course.
The Simola Hillclimb comprises two events – Classic Car Friday, which takes place on 2 May, and King of the Hill, which runs over Saturday and Sunday, 3 and 4 May.
Classic Car Friday:
Classic Car Friday allows for up to 64 entries, now spread over 10 classes for the 15th edition of the Simola Hillclimb owing to the creation of separate classes for open-wheel single-seater race cars (H9) and the new class H10 for racing sports cars and GT cars.
Franco Scribante is the reigning Classic Conqueror, having claimed his seventh title last year in his 1970 Chevron B19 with a winning time of 41.796 seconds.
King of the Hill:
From mild to wild, the cars competing for King of the Hill glory represent up to 84 of the very best road and race cars in the country – from hot hatches to scintillating supercars and pure-bred Hillclimb monsters.
There are three categories for King of the Hill, each with its own Jody Trophy (named in honour of South Africa’s only Formula 1 champion, Jody Scheckter) up for grabs for the overall winner in the thrilling all-or-nothing Top 10 Shootouts on Sunday afternoon.
The Kia Carens nameplate makes its return to South Africa, this time as a seven‑seater designed with families in mind. It combines Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) styling with Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) practicality, offering space, comfort and efficiency, Kia says.
Volvo has confirmed that its vehicles will now integrate Google’s Gemini artificial intelligence system. This development builds on the company’s existing collaboration with Google, which already provides Android Automotive OS and Google services in Volvo models.
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Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?
George Carlin
Volvo has confirmed that its vehicles will now integrate Google’s Gemini artificial intelligence system. This development builds on the company’s existing collaboration with Google, which already provides Android Automotive OS and Google services in Volvo models.
New vehicle sales in 2026 continued their positive trend in April, with the 47 979 units sold marking the best April figure since 2013. This represents a remarkable performance by local automotive retailers despite a host of economic headwinds and a challenging trading environment.
April 2026 marked a turning point in South Africa’s economic landscape, as global energy markets were jolted by escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, according to naamsa | The Automotive Business Council.
