UK ace in for hillclimb
Multiple world record-holder ready for Knysna action
WORLD-renowned British stunt driver Terry Grant will be one of the big attractions at this year’s Jaguar Simola Hillclimb, to be held in Knysna early next month. Grant will not only be racing a Jaguar F-Pace up the hill on four wheels, but will also set about conquering the Simola Hill on two wheels.
Multiple world record-holder Grant forms part of Jaguar’s race driver lineup for this year’s instalment of the award-winning event.
At Classic Car Friday on May 4, Grant will drive a Jaguar XJ-S, prepared by apprentices from the Jaguar Land Rover Training Academy.
Then, at the King of the Hill event on Saturday and Sunday May 5 and 6, he will be participating in a Jaguar F-Pace S as well as a world-record holding F-Pace.
“Jaguar Land Rover has a great relationship with Terry and his incredible talent has helped show off the capabilities of our cars,” Jaguar Land Rover South Africa and sub-Sahara Africa marketing director Lisa Mallet said.
“We can’t wait for him to wow the crowds at this year’s Jaguar Simola Hillclimb, which will celebrate the Pace family of SUVs.”
Grant is no stranger to Jaguar’s Pace family. At the world debut of the F-Pace in 2015, he used an F-Pace to set the Guinness World Record for the highest loop-the-loop in a car, at 19.08m.
Last year, he introduced the world to Jaguar’s second SUV, the E-Pace, by setting a Guinness World Record for the furthest barrel roll in a production car.
When racing up the Simola Hill Road in a 280kW, supercharged Jaguar F-Pace S, Grant plans to keep all four wheels firmly on the ground as he tries to set the best time possible.
However, during intermissions he will show off his precision driving skills from behind the wheel of his Guinness World Record-holding Jaguar F-Pace.
With the help of a special ramp, Grant will balance his car on two wheels as he drives up the 1.9km Simola Hill – a stunt never before attempted at the event.
“I work closely with Jaguar on projects throughout the world and have heard the Jaguar Simola Hillclimb being mentioned,” Grant said.
“I’m really looking forward to joining the action in May and helping to write a new chapter of the Pace story.”
Along with setting records in Jaguar cars, Grant has also set 23 other world records. This includes driving a Range Rover Sport SVR on two wheels, with an incredible 16 passengers on board.
He has also set records for the highest number of donuts in 100 seconds (39), the highest number of consecutive donuts (161), changing a wheel on a spinning car, and completing the narrowest J-turn on record.
The Jaguar Simola Hillclimb kicks off with Classic Car Friday on May 4. On Saturday and Sunday May 5 and 6, competitors will race up the most-contested stretch of road in the country for the King of the Hill title.
Tickets for the event start at R120 for day passes, and can be purchased online at: http://jaguarsimolahillclimb.nutickets.co.za
An online live stream of the event will be available. Visit: www.jaguarsimolahillclimb.com