KNYSNA, South Africa, 7 March 2025 – The countdown has begun for one of South Africa’s most anticipated motorsport events. In less than two months, the picturesque town of Knysna will once again come alive with the exhilarating sights and sounds of historic racing machines as Classic Car Friday kicks off the 15th edition of the Simola Hillclimb on 2 May 2025.
Before the action commences, fans will have the opportunity to get up close to the participating cars during scrutineering at the Knysna Waterfront on 1 May. This will be followed by the ever-popular Classic Car Friday parade, setting the stage for a weekend of high-octane nostalgia and fierce competition.
A Field of Legends
Classic Car Friday features an exclusive, invitation-only lineup of 65 classic race and road cars spanning more than six decades of automotive history, from 1937 to 2000. Enthusiasts can expect a dazzling display of historic machinery from revered marques such as Austin, Jaguar, Porsche, Alfa Romeo, Shelby, Ford, Lotus, Chevrolet, BMW, and Lola, among many others.
Competitors will vie for victory in their respective classes before battling it out in the prestigious Top 10 Shootout for the ultimate accolade: the Classic Conqueror title and the coveted Jody Trophy, named in honor of South Africa’s 1979 Formula 1 World Champion, Jody Scheckter.
Reigning champion Franco Scribante, fresh off his seventh Classic Car Friday win in 2024, returns with his fearsome 1970 Chevron B19, a Cosworth BDG-powered sports prototype. His dominance will be challenged by a formidable field of competitors eager to dethrone him in the thrilling 1.9-kilometer uphill sprint.
New Class Structure and Exciting Entrants
For 2025, the competition has been refined with open-wheel single-seaters and sports/GT cars now competing in separate classes. Class H10 will feature sports and GT cars up to 1985, including Scribante’s Chevron B19, Bill Annetts’ 1983 Lotus 7, and a fascinating newcomer—the Davey 626, a one-of-a-kind South African-built GT car making its long-awaited return to competition, driven by Scott Temple.
Class H9, dedicated to open-wheel single-seaters up to 1985, boasts an impressive lineup of eight competitors, headlined by 2023 Classic Car Friday champion Andre Bezuidenhout in his 1976 Lola T460. He will be eager to make up for last year’s mechanical misfortune in the Top 10 Shootout, setting the stage for a gripping rivalry with Scribante. Other notable contenders include 2015 winner Charles Arton (1979 March 79A), Josh Dovey (1972 Chevron B20), and an array of strong InvestChem entries, including Ian Schofield (1977 March 77B) and Robert Wolk (1979 Van Diemen RF79).
Adding a historic touch is Rodney Green’s 1957 Cooper Climax Formula 2, a Coventry Climax-powered machine that once competed in the 1960 South African Grand Prix.
Saloon Car Showdowns
The tin-top battles promise just as much excitement, with multiple classes catering to classic racing and road cars.
- Class H8 (Six-cylinder and above racing saloons up to 2000): Former class champion Rui Campos (1974 Porsche 911 RSR) will face stiff competition from Craig Wessels (1983 Porsche 911 RSR IROC) and ex-rally star Enzo Kuun (1989 Ferrari 348). Nissan Skyline entries, a 1988 Toyota Supra, and a 1984 Jaguar XJS add to the diverse lineup.
- Class H7 (Four-cylinder racing saloons up to 2000): Motorsport icon Farouk Dangor returns in his 1991 BMW E30 M3, while reigning King of the Hill Dawie Joubert brings a 2000 Lotus Elise into the mix.
- Class H6 (Rotary and six-cylinder cars up to 1975): The mighty Shelby Daytona Coupés of James Temple and Djurk Venter will battle against Paige Lindenberg’s 1968 Ford Fairlane and an iconic 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray.
- Class H5 (Small-capacity production cars up to 1975): Alfa Romeo fans will be treated to a battle of GTVs, Giulia Supers, and a Berlina 2000, alongside two classic Datsun GX Coupés and a Volvo 122s.
- Classes H2 to H4 (Street-legal road cars up to 1987): Entries include a 1965 AC Cobra, a Jaguar D-Type, a 1970 Porsche 914 GT, and a stunning 1965 Ford GT40 from the Parnell Bruce Collection.
The Road to Glory
Competitors will tackle three practice runs in the morning before proceeding to three crucial qualifying runs. The top three qualifiers from each class advance to the Class Finals, culminating in a high-stakes single-run shootout. The event reaches its climax in the Top 10 Shootout, where the fastest qualifiers go head-to-head for the title of Classic Conqueror.
With an unmatched lineup of historic machinery, fierce rivalries, and the breathtaking Simola Hill as the ultimate proving ground, Classic Car Friday 2025 promises to be a spectacle like no other. Whether you’re a die-hard motorsport enthusiast or a lover of automotive history, the 15th edition of the Simola Hillclimb is set to deliver an unforgettable experience.
