As South Africa’s premier motoring and motorsport lifestyle event, the Simola Hillclimb is renowned locally and internationally for assembling some of the finest and fastest cars on the planet along with an equally star-studded line-up of drivers as they aim for one goal – to set the quickest time up the tight and technical 1.9km Simola Hill course.

However, long before we get to the three thrilling days of adrenaline-fuelled action, the organisers carefully sift through all of the entry applications to select and invite the drivers and cars that will deliver the ultimate automotive showcase for the thousands of spectators who attend the event, and many more from around the world who follow the event livestream.

For Classic Car Friday on 2 May there are 65 competitor spots available across the 10 classes, starting with the ‘golden oldies’ in H1 for pre-war cars, which compete against each other based on a handicap formula. The rest of the classes compete in a flat-out challenge against the clock for the thoroughbred single-seater, sports and GT cars up to 1985, along with racing saloon cars and road-going cars up to the year 2000. There truly is something for everyone, for competitors and spectators alike.

King of the Hill, which takes place over two days on 3 and 4 May, allows for a maximum of 84 competitor spots, encompassing eight classes for standard production road cars and supercars, ten classes for mild to wild tin-top racing cars, and seven classes for single-seaters, sports cars and sports prototype racing cars – once again ensuring an intriguing and exciting mix of entrants.

With time running out, interested competitors are encouraged to submit their applications by 31 January. The rules, regulations and classes for Classic Car Friday and King of the Hill are available on the event website, and the entry applications are submitted online at www.simolahillclimb.com Successful applicants will be informed by the middle of February.

The 15th edition of the Simola Hillclimb starts on a perfectly timed extra-long weekend, as the public holiday on Thursday 1 May for Workers’ Day will allow fans to maximise their Simola Hillclimb experience. The opening day incorporates the scrutineering of all the cars for Classic Car Friday, followed by an afternoon parade along the Knysna Waterfront – an opportunity for fans to see the cars and drivers close-up, and it is free.

The competitive action commences on Friday, 2 May where the Classic Car Friday contenders take on the 1.9km Simola Hillclimb in search of victory in their respective classes. Then it’s on to the thrilling Top 10 Shootout where the competitors with the fastest times battle it out for the Classic Conqueror title.

Scrutineering and the late-afternoon waterfront parade for King of the Hill take place on Friday. Saturday, 3 May kicks off with the practice sessions and the first three competitive qualifying runs. The intensity ramps up on Sunday with the final three qualifying attempts followed by the class finals. This ultimately culminates in the nail-biting all-or-nothing Top 10 Shootouts for each of the three categories: Road Cars and Supercars; Modified Saloon Cars; and Single Seaters, Sports Cars and Sports Prototypes.