Baard one to beat in tweaked GT-R

The 2019 Jaguar Simola Hillclimb takes place from May 2 to 5 in Knysna and is shaping up to be a thrilling edition with the big guns of the tin-top racing fraternity preparing for an epic battle for King of the Hill glory.

The Modified Saloon Car category, or Class B, represents the ultimate in road-derived race cars, with 41 mild to absolutely wild machines set to be unleashed on the 1.9km Simola Hill – making it the biggest and most competitive category this year.

The man with a target on his back is Wilhelm Baard, the reigning three-time King of the Hill champion.

He won the 2017 and 2018 editions in a fire-breathing, radically winged iteration of the venerable Nissan GT-R.

The car has been tweaked further with the help of the Japanese brand’s performance division, Nismo.

One of his most formidable adversaries is multiple Classic Conqueror and King of the Hill winner Franco Scribante.

The Italian ace will also be heading to the start line in a Nissan GT-R after struggling for traction last year in his rear-wheel drive Porsche GT3R.

Scribante predicts the fiercest challenge is likely to come from the Joubert brothers: Charl with his turbocharged Honda 3.5 V6-powered Lotus Elise and Dawie with a Lotus Exige fitted with a 2.4-litre turbocharged Honda engine. Charl finished second in 2018, with Dawie third.

The rumbling V8 Masters entries feature Enzo Kuun, who will be competing against a trio of US drivers in the form of Kai Goddard, Steve Kimpton and Dave Smith.

Franco di Matteo (pictured) will be entering the fray with his Jaguar V8 Supercar, along with Marcel Angel in a Ferrari 458 GT3.

Lastly is the bakkies and SUVs, with Terence Marsh competing in a V8-powered Dakar Nissan Navara and Peter Lindenberg in his supercharged Savage Ford Ranger 660.

There truly is something for everyone at this year’s 10th edition of the Jaguar Simola Hillclimb.

Follow all the action on #JaguarSHC and for more information, visit jaguarsimolahillclimb.com. – Own Correspondent