Hillclimb gears up to break records
ONE of the Garden Route’s most popular motorsport events is gearing up to break all records next year.
The Jaguar Simola Hillclimb at Knysna has grown in popularity every year since its inception in 2009, and next year’s event from May 4 to 7 is set to be its most spectacular yet.
From a competitor point of view, such is the level of interest that within three weeks of the applications for entry into the eight running of the event being opened, it was already oversubscribed – once again reaffirming the hillclimb’s status as one of South Africa’s premier motorsport events.
“This is the earliest we’ve opened the entry process and already within the first three weeks we have had 175 applications, which is a new record,” sporting director Geoff Goddard said.
“So far we have five expressions of interest from overseas competitors, including three from the US and one each from the UK and Germany.
“As this is an invitation event, we’re going to have our work cut out selecting the best possible lineup, but the spectators will be assured of a motorsport spectacle of the highest calibre.”
This proves just how popular the hillclimb is, with its unparallelled mix of rare, exotic and extreme road and race cars from all eras, combined with the allure of some of the greatest drivers in the sport, all racing against the clock on the challenging 1.9km hillclimb course.
Once the application window closes on January 25, the organisers will review the entries and extend invitations to the selected group of drivers who will occupy the 60 prized slots for Classic Car Friday, along with the 84 highly sought-after places for King of the Hill.
Motorsport enthusiasts can already secure their places for the 2017 Jaguar Simola Hillclimb as admission tickets are now available, and day, weekend and pit access tickets can be purchased at www.itickets.co.za.
One-day general entry tickets cost R100 per person, with free entry for children under 12.