The 10th edition of SA’s premier motorsport and motoring lifestyle event, Knysna’s Jaguar Simola Hillclimb, will roar into life from May 2 to 5.
No other event on the motoring calendar attracts such a large and diverse range of iconic cars and legendary drivers from all eras competing for glory on the challenging 1.9km Simola Hill course.
“From a simple idea developed by a small group of motorsport enthusiasts, combined with lots of hard work and dedication, the Hillclimb has become an award-winning motorsport lifestyle showcase that attracts competitors, spectators and live stream broadcast viewers from around the world,” said Ian Shrosbree, managing director of Knysna Speed Festival which organises the annual Hillclimb.
It is the sixth year that Jaguar is the title sponsor.
Almost 17,000 spectators, along with a dazzling array of high-profile celebrities and sports stars, attended the 2018 Jaguar Simola Hillclimb which saw the most competitive field yet vying for the Classic Conqueror and King of the Hill titles over the three days of adrenaline-charged action.
“The unprecedented success of the Jaguar Simola Hillclimb can be attributed to our ongoing efforts to evolve and improve the event each year,” Shrosbree said.
“Because we are limited in the number of cars that can compete in Classic Car Friday and King of the Hill on the Saturday and Sunday, our focus is always on delivering the very best Hillclimb experience for the competitors, spectators and sponsors.”
Ticket sales to the public already opened on September 28 to give fans the opportunity to secure their places well in advance.
The online ticketing process, available on www.jaguarsimolahillclimb.com, has also been refined, with spectators first buying a General Entry or VIP Entry ticket.
Once the initial ticket type has been selected, they will then be able to buy ticket upgrades, including Pit Access and Turn 2 Grandstand Seating, as well as Pit Priority Parking.
The exclusive VIP Hospitality packages, which include event and pit entry, as well as access to the Le Mans VIP Lounge, Piston Club or a Corporate Box in the VIP Village, are always in high demand and sell out quickly.
For the 2019 event, the wide range of vendors provide a selection of foods and beverages, as well as exclusive gear and automotive memorabilia.
When it comes to the thrilling Hillclimb action, the organisers have made several changes to further spice up the competition.
While the format for the popular Classic Car Friday remains unchanged, the King of the Hill classes have been expanded and revised.
Class A for standard roadgoing cars benefits from the addition of a new class, A9, that caters for high-end, high-performance sport utility vehicles (SUVs), sport activity vehicles (SAVs) and bakkies.
The regulations for Class B, for modified saloon racing cars, incorporates two new classes, allowing four-cylinder forced-induction cars to compete independently for two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive honours, respectively.
The biggest changes have been introduced in Class C, which has been remodelled by separating the specialised single-seater and sports racing cars into individual categories for the first time.
Online registrations for competitors in the Hillclimb opened on October 1 and close January 31.
● For more information visit www.jaguarsimolahillclimb.com