MasterDrive returned to the Simola Hillclimb this past weekend for its fifth consecutive appearance at the iconic Knysna event, once again taking on a variety of responsibilities that stretched far beyond the competitive action on the hill.
From driving safety cars and preparing young competitors for their debut, to competing in Classic Car Friday and the adrenaline-fuelled King of the Hill challenge, the team delivered another multi-faceted performance at the 16th edition of the Simola Hillclimb.
Classic Car Friday provided an early opportunity for the safety car crews to get to work as competitors tackled the demanding course. MasterDrive CEO Eugene Herbert also joined the action in a classic Fiat Uno, a model that still enjoys a special place in South African motoring heritage.
As the weekend progressed, the event settled into the kind of rhythm that comes from careful planning and experience. Herbert and MasterDrive Coastal GM Eugene “Gino” Nourse lined up for King of the Hill alongside the latest winners of the MasterDrive Driver Search competition. The weekend concluded with VIP rides up the hill, giving invited guests an immersive taste of the Simola experience from inside the action itself.
This year marked a significant milestone for the MasterDrive Driver Search initiative. For the first time in the programme’s four-year history, two young South Africans from previously disadvantaged backgrounds competed at the event.
Twenty-year-old Umar Dhansay and 16-year-old Suhaa Jacobs secured their places after emerging victorious from a field of more than 120 entrants. Jacobs also became the first female winner of the MasterDrive Driver Search and the youngest driver ever to compete in both the Driver Search and the Simola Hillclimb.
Herbert said the event represented another successful chapter for the team.
“Dhansay and Jacobs were enthusiastic to conquer the hill, and MasterDrive was proud to provide this opportunity. Together with our partners, we ensured they arrived at the start line not as spectators or passengers, but as prepared, supported competitors,” said Herbert.
A broad network of partners assisted MasterDrive in fulfilling its responsibilities throughout the event, including Castrol, AA South Africa, Motorsport South Africa, Race Driver SA, TGN Racing Simulators, Century Karting, IndyKart Indoor Go-Karting, Killarney International Raceway, Tracktion Driving Experiences, The Rose Foundation, MUA Insurance, PG Glass, Vertex Performance Auto Clinic and VW Barons Cape Town.
On the competitive front, Herbert secured second place in his class for the second consecutive year, adding another strong result to the team’s growing Simola record.
Reflecting on MasterDrive’s journey at the event, Herbert said the organisation’s role has evolved dramatically since its first appearance during the pandemic-era Hillclimb, which took place without spectators.
“Delivering in such varied and important ways was a distant concept when MasterDrive first arrived at Simola during a pandemic-era event with no spectators and a simple brief: drive the safety cars.
“Five years in, MasterDrive's Simola story has grown exponentially. It is the story of a team that has built their own lane in motorsport which actively widens with each year. Their experience built over that time, is what allowed space for something more significant to happen,” he said.
