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Motoring and motorsport enthusiasts are once again in for an action-packed, adrenaline-fuelled automotive feast when the Jaguar Simola Hillclimb descends on Knysna from 14 to 17 May this year.  There will be plenty to get pulses racing, starting off with SuperCar Thursday, followed by the iconic Classic Car Friday. But it’s the King of the Hill which is the major drawcard amongst the competitors and the spectators alike. King of the Hill caters for a wide variety of road and race cars, and kicks off on Saturday 16 May with a series of five practice runs to give the 80 competitors a chance to familiarise themselves with the challenging 1.9 km course that leads up to the Simola Golf and Country Estate. The cars set off at 20 sec intervals for each of the sessions, so spectators are kept enthralled throughout the day. The action gets a bit more intense in the afternoon session as two qualifying runs are completed, setting the tone for the remaining four qualifying sessions that commence on Sunday morning. Each competitor’s best time from the six runs determines their overall qualifying results, leading to the top three in each class facing off in an exciting single run shoot-out to determine the final podium placings. Prizes are awarded to the top three competitors in each class. Ultimately this leads to the grand finale for the Jaguar Simola Hillclimb as the overall 10 fastest competitors throughout the weekend’s qualifying are lined up for their final assault on ‘The Hill’. The drivers set off in reverse order, starting from 10th place, and give it their all in an exhilarating dash for the line with the aim of claiming the prized ‘King of the Hill’ title for 2015. “The format for the Jaguar Simola Hillclimb guarantees non-stop action for the competitors and spectators throughout the weekend, building up to the climactic final session where it’s an all-or-nothing attempt to set the quickest time,” explains Geoff Goddard, Sporting Director for the Jaguar Simola Hillclimb. “It also allows for changes in weather, giving the drivers in the single run shoot-outs identical conditions for their final and most important blast up the hillclimb.” The shoot-out guarantees plenty of drama and excitement as each run is completed and positions on the leader board are shifted. The 2014 event literally had everyone on the edges of their seats as the times tumbled after each of the top 10 runs, with Franco Scribante heading off last and spectacularly snatching the title from Des Gutzeit by a mere 0.546 sec with a record-breaking time of 41.159 sec in his 1970 Chevron B19. That’s an average of 166.185 km/h for 1.9 kilometres from a standing start! Less than one second separated the top four competitors in last year’s King of the Hill battle, proving just how close and intense the competition is at the sharp end of the field. Entries for the Jaguar Simola Hillclimb are split into three distinct categories. Class A caters for road cars, with classes A1 (sedan) and A2 (SUV) providing for standard vehicles using normal road tyres and wheels in line with the car’s original manufacturer’s specification. The other classes allow greater flexibility, making provision for the likes of front, rear and all-wheel drive vehicles, number of cylinders (4,6 or 8 and above), and either naturally aspirated engines or forced induction by means of a turbocharger, supercharger or nitrous oxide (NOS) injection. Class B is designed for saloon-type racing cars, incorporating six classes based on cylinder count and naturally aspirated or forced induction engines, while Class C features five categories for single-seaters and sports racing cars. “We separate the entries into classes to give the competitors the opportunity to compete against broadly comparable vehicles,” Goddard says. “However within the regulations the classes and specification are open to allow all types of vehicles to be entered. This adds to accessible nature and trademark excitement and spectacle of the Jaguar Simola Hillclimb.” |
