Knysna, South Africa – 15 April 2025 – The Simola Hillclimb has long been a theatre of high-octane drama, daring driving, and boundary-pushing performance – and the 15th edition, set for 1 to 4 May 2025, promises to be the most thrilling yet. Headlining this year’s Modified Saloon Car category is none other than seven-time World Rallycross (WRX) champion Johan Kristoffersson, who will pilot his all-electric, title-winning Volkswagen Polo RX1e up the iconic 1.9 km Simola Hill.
Volkswagen Motorsport’s decision to field Kristoffersson and the ferocious Polo RX1e – the same machine that secured WRX titles in 2022 and 2023 – is a bold statement. It marks a turning point for the Hillclimb, where the future of motorsport, in the form of instant-torque EVs, meets the raw combustion brutality of twin-turbo monsters.
“We’re honoured to welcome Johan Kristoffersson and immensely grateful to Volkswagen for bringing such pedigree to Simola,” said Ian Shrosbree, Managing Director of the Knysna Speed Festival. “Following Petter Solberg’s incredible 2023 appearance, Kristoffersson’s participation takes the event to new heights both in global stature and sheer competition.”
An Electric Underdog with Bite
While the Polo RX1e might appear an underdog among a field bristling with 1 000+ hp internal combustion titans, it’s anything but. With 500 kW on tap and an eye-watering 0–100 km/h time of just 1.8 seconds, the all-wheel-drive EV is a torque-slinging missile perfectly suited to the technical twists and cambered corners of the Simola course. Its lightweight design and sharp agility are sure to turn heads – and possibly the timing screens.
Scribante vs. Roets: The GT-R Grudge Match Continues
But electric or not, Kristoffersson will need to beat local legends like Franco Scribante, who returns in ‘The Sheriff’ – his wing-laden, 1 600 hp 2019 Nissan R35 GT-R that’s nothing short of a time-attack weapon. Despite suffering a gearbox failure in 2024, Scribante’s engineering team has reportedly been hard at work making the car even more explosive off the line. His ultimate goal? Smashing his own 2022 class record of 38.129 seconds.
On the other side of this GT-R showdown is Reghard Roets in the stealthy yet savage BB Motorsport R35 GT-R, affectionately known as ‘Armageddon’. Featuring a far more understated aero package than Scribante’s extreme set-up, Roets’ GT-R makes its gains with precision and consistency. After last year’s front differential failure in qualifying, he’s back with one goal: his first Modified Saloon Car title.
Reigning Champions and Dark Horses
Reigning King of the Hill Dawie Joubert returns with his featherweight, rear-wheel-drive Ferrari 488-powered Lotus Exige, having stunned the field in 2024 with a best run of 38.405 seconds – mere fractions behind Scribante’s record. The same class (B4) will see intense competition from Pieter Zeelie in his Toyota MR2 Super GT and Charl Joubert in a Honda V6-powered Lotus Elise.
The Czank Racing team, too, adds intrigue. Devin Robertson, who finished fourth overall in 2024, and Craig Czank in his turbocharged VR32-powered Exige, could spring surprises in the highly competitive B4 class.
Also entering the fray is Wade van Zummeren, who moves to the four-wheel drive B5 category in a wild Nissan R34 GT-R, joined by brother Jody in an R32. The Scribante brothers, Aldo and Silvio, also return – the former in a heavily modified Audi S4, the latter hoping for a smoother run in his imported RS3 after technical issues hampered his 2024 effort.
GT3 Firepower and Six-Cylinder Surge
In class B7, the Giannoccaro family fields a fearsome father-son duo: Giacomo in a NASCAR-engined BMW Z4 GT3, and Ricardo in a GT3-spec Mercedes-AMG GT. Pieter Joubert adds more muscle to the class in a Mercedes-AMG SLS-powered Lotus Exige, while Mike Verrier brings the thunder with a Chevrolet LS7-powered BMW Z4.
Six-cylinder fury comes in the form of Charl Arrangies (2021 Porsche 911 GT3R) and Willie de Beer (2008 GT3 Cup), competing in class B6. Meanwhile, B3 boasts high-boost four-cylinder turbo monsters including Anton Cronje’s Subaru WRX STI and Jared Rossouw’s Golf 6R.
Factory Face-Offs and Featherweight Flyers
Class B2 for front-wheel drive machines sees the continuation of Volkswagen Motorsport’s internal duel between Daniel Rowe – last year’s class winner – and Jonathan Mogotsi, both in Polo SupaCup cars. They’re up against a mix of curious creations, from Owen Bridger’s Civic Type-R to Louis Cloete’s Subaru-powered Beetle.
In B1, the battle for naturally aspirated supremacy will be a David-versus-Goliath contest between Tarique Zietsman’s Fiesta ST and Farhad Alli’s BMW ti.
Brawny Bakkies and Street-Legal Sleepers
The thundering B9 class is led by Arnold du Plessis in the supercharged Nissan Patrol Black Hawk, pushing 396 kW, while Janus Janse van Rensburg returns in the potent new Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio.
The newer B10 class for modified road-legal machines sees former Group N ace Farouk Dangor trading his R35 for a 2001 Nissan R34 GT-R, facing off against an Audi RS3 driven by Giovanni Fantin, and other tuned street warriors.
One Hill. Infinite Horsepower.
With such a formidable cast of champions, engineers, and grassroots heroes, the 15th Simola Hillclimb promises to be an unforgettable showcase of speed, skill, and cutting-edge motorsport technology. Whether it’s the blistering instant torque of the Polo RX1e or the savage roar of a V8 GT-R tearing up the tarmac, all eyes will be on Knysna this May for one of South Africa’s most spectacular motorsport showdowns.
Let the battle for King of the Hill begin.
