KNYSNA, South Africa, 20 November 2025 – Few events on the local motorsport calendar capture the imagination quite like the Simola Hillclimb. A meeting point for engineering brilliance, pure driving talent and an enviable range of machinery, it has become synonymous with spectacle. From classic icons to modern supercars and single-seater missiles tailored for sub-40-second ascents, the 1.9 km ribbon of tarmac continues to attract an extraordinary cast of competitors.
And among its most enduring personalities is Mpumalanga’s Piet Potgieter – a man whose motorsport story has been written in both tyre smoke and two-stroke haze, shaped by a lifelong addiction to speed that remains undiminished at 75 years old.
A Road Car Racer with a True Driver’s Heart
While many eyes are drawn to the purpose-built monsters of King of the Hill, the Road-going Saloon Car and Supercar category holds a special appeal for fans. Here, the cars that thunder up Simola are the same ones you can, at least in theory, see on the street – showroom-spec machines that embody real-world aspiration.
For Potgieter, his weapon of choice has always been his beloved 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, the car he has campaigned at seven Simola Hillclimbs to date. Finished in striking red and powered by a Ferrari-derived 375 kW twin-turbo V6, the Quadrifoglio remains one of the purest high-performance sports sedans of the modern era.
“I’ve always competed at the Simola Hillclimb in my 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, which is my daily driver,” Potgieter says. “It’s such a beautiful car, and handles very well up the Simola Hill. Getting the car off the line properly is tricky as it didn’t come with launch control, but it’s great fun to drive.”
The car has served him well. He secured a class win in 2019, has twice cracked the Top 10 Shootout, and continues to haul his Alfa up the hill with the same enthusiasm as his very first attempt.
From Superbikes to Standout Hillclimb Competitor
Potgieter’s motorsport résumé stretches far beyond his tenure at Simola. Before he strapped himself into a race car, he was a formidable presence on two wheels, especially aboard Italian machinery.
“I was Battle of the Twins South African champion on a Ducati, and I’ve done some overseas events, including the Isle of Man TT, which I raced twice,” he explains. His international portfolio includes the Spa-Francorchamps 24-hour motorcycle endurance race, where he and Clinton Pienaar competed for a British team – an achievement not many South African riders can claim.
After retiring from motorcycles, Potgieter shifted gears seamlessly into car racing. Today, he remains an active competitor in the 111 GT Sports & Saloons championship, piloting a VW Golf GTI prepared by Graeme Nathan. In 2025, he finished second in class A, proving his competitive spirit remains as sharp as ever.
Mastering the Hill, One Run at a Time
Despite his extensive circuit-racing background, Potgieter acknowledges that Simola is a beast of its own. The hill presents a unique combination of tight technical corners, rapid elevation changes and precision-demanding apexes.
“The course is tight and challenging, and tests the car and the driver’s skills to the limit,” he says. “The most challenging part of the course is remaining clear of the corner limit markers. These weren’t used when I first came to the hillclimb, and it was much easier to tackle the apex. Now I have to watch my lines and be a lot more careful.”
Potgieter’s fastest official time, a blistering 48.875 seconds in 2019, placed him ninth in the Top 10 Shootout. In 2021, he delivered another standout performance with a class-winning 50.014-second run, followed by sixth place in the Shootout.
A Driver Defined by Passion, Community and Commitment
For Potgieter, the event is about more than competition. It’s about camaraderie, shared enthusiasm and the unique energy that has come to define the Simola Hillclimb.
“The organisation of the Simola Hillclimb is superb, and the spectator interest is fantastic. Every year, the crowd and the atmosphere grow, and more people come to talk to me about my Alfa Romeo. It’s wonderful to interact with fellow enthusiasts,” he says.
He also notes the significance of the event’s global recognition: “The international attention the Simola Hillclimb gets, and the overseas drivers that are coming here, confirms how popular and well-run Simola is. It’s world-class and great recognition for South African motorsport.”
A Return That’s All but Guaranteed
With decades of racing behind him – on circuits, mountain roads and legendary international venues – Potgieter’s passion remains found not in trophies, but in the pure joy of competition.
“I will keep coming back to the Simola Hillclimb as long as I can,” he says with a smile, “and it will always be with my Giulia Quadrifoglio as I’ll never get rid of this car.”
The 16th edition of the Simola Hillclimb takes place 30 April to 3 May 2026, promising another unforgettable chapter in one of South Africa’s premier motorsport experiences.
For more information, visit: www.simolahillclimb.com
