Simola Hillclimb, King of the Hill, motorsport South Africa, Knysna racing, Robert Wolk, Pieter Zeelie, Clint Weston, hillclimb racing, BMW M4, Mercedes AMG GT 63 S, Toyota MR2, Audi RS3, Nissan GT-R, motorsport 2026
The opening day of the 16th edition of the Simola Hillclimb delivered a finely tuned mix of speed, tension and mechanical theatre, with three former or defending champions setting the tone across the 1.9 km Knysna ascent. As practice and qualifying sessions unfolded under crisp autumn conditions, the narrative quickly crystallised around control at the top, pressure in the middle, and razor-thin margins everywhere else.
In the headline Single Seaters, Sports Cars and Sports Prototypes category, Robert Wolk asserted himself as the benchmark of the field in his 2005 Gould GR55, delivering a commanding best qualifying time of 35.314 seconds in Q3. His performance placed him firmly ahead of Devin Robertson in the 1995 Radical Pro Sport, who clocked 39.743 seconds, while Ian Schofield, fresh off a Classic Car Friday win, rounded out the top three in a 2018 Formula Ford with 41.872 seconds. The gap was significant, but Wolk’s own focus remained firmly on extraction rather than satisfaction.
A late setback for Andre Bezuidenhout reshaped the competitive landscape before the hill even opened, with engine damage in pre-event testing removing one of Wolk’s expected closest challengers. That absence handed Wolk a sizeable cushion, but also sharpened the attention on whether the outright Simola Hill record of 34.161 seconds might come under threat, especially with recent resurfacing on parts of the course subtly altering grip and rhythm.
Despite the advantage, Wolk struck a measured tone, pointing to unused performance still on the table. Running on used tyres throughout the day, he indicated that fresh rubber and further refinement in launch and engine tuning could unlock meaningful gains. His assessment of the car’s balance suggested a machine already in a strong window, with the promise of more pace still waiting in the system.
If the top class belonged to Wolk, the Modified Saloon Cars category was defined by compression rather than dominance. Defending champion Pieter Zeelie set the pace in his 2002 Toyota MR2 with a best of 38.747 seconds, though still short of his own 37.090-second class record from the previous year. The Scribante cousins kept the pressure relentless, with Silvio Scribante in a 2006 Audi RS3 just hundredths behind on 38.868 seconds, and Franco Scribante, a five-time winner, close again in his 2018 Nissan R35 GT-R on 39.150 seconds.
Zeelie’s day was a study in fine margins and familiar frustrations, particularly through the technical Turn 2 right-hander where grip proved elusive and momentum into the uphill section suffered. Even so, he remained confident that new tyres and additional boost could unlock the low 37-second range on Sunday, while acknowledging that matching last year’s peak might remain out of reach unless conditions aligned perfectly.
Further back, the class continued to showcase depth and unpredictability. Aldo Scribante impressed on debut with a new Audi TT, securing fourth, while Steve Clark’s Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R and Reghard Roets in another R35 GT-R filled out a tightly packed midfield where tenths of a second defined position rather than seconds.
In the Road Cars and Supercars category, Clint Weston delivered the most clinically dominant performance of the day. Driving the hybrid Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance, the 2025 class winner led every session and ended with a best time of 42.273 seconds. That mark not only placed him comfortably ahead of the field but also undercut the existing class record of 42.935 seconds, signalling a strong intent to extend his control into the weekend’s finals.
Behind him, BMW machinery provided the primary resistance. Cristiano Verolini secured second in a 2026 BMW M4 with 43.872 seconds, narrowly off his previous top-ten shootout benchmark, while German factory driver Jens Klingmann made an immediate impression in his Simola debut. Competing in the latest hybrid BMW M5, he improved steadily throughout the day to finish third on 45.193 seconds, adapting quickly to a circuit entirely new to him.
Klingmann’s feedback highlighted both the challenge and the charm of the Simola Hillclimb experience, noting the rapid learning curve required to master its rhythm, but also the welcoming paddock atmosphere that defines the event. His remarks underscored a recurring theme across the grid: while competition is fierce, the environment remains distinctly communal.
As the field now turns toward Sunday’s decisive sessions, the stakes sharpen considerably. A warm-up run will be followed by the final qualifying attempts, with only the top performers advancing to class finals and the elite Top 10 shootouts that ultimately determine the King of the Hill titles. With records under threat, rivalries tightening, and margins already microscopic, the stage is set for a climactic conclusion to one of South Africa’s most demanding motorsport spectacles.
