With less than a month to go, anticipation is building for the 16th Simola Hillclimb, which once again kicks off with the crowd-favourite Classic Car Friday.
Set against the sweeping curves of Simola Hill in Knysna, the opening day delivers a unique blend of heritage and competition, with 65 cars entered for 2026. The line-up spans more than seven decades of motoring history, from a 1926 Austin 7 to a 2002 Alfa Romeo 156 GTA — all driven in anger rather than simply displayed.
Spectators will get their first close-up look at the machinery during scrutineering in Hedge Street on Thursda, April 30, before the traditional parade along Waterfront Drive.
The focus then shifts to outright performance on Friday May 1, when drivers tackle the 1.9km hillclimb in pursuit of class honours and the sought-after Classic Conqueror title.
As in previous years, much of the spotlight will fall on Franco Scribante and Andre Bezuidenhout. Scribante returns in his Chevron B19 as a seven-time winner chasing another victory, while Bezuidenhout lines up in his Lola T460 Formula Atlantic car after narrowly missing out in last year’s Top 10 Shootout.
They won’t have it all their own way in the open-wheel H9 class. Former winner Ian Schofield brings his March 77B back into contention, while Josh Dovey’s Chevron B20 and a trio of Formula Fords — driven by Robert Wolk, Simphiwe Mohlahlo and Rick Morris — add further depth to the field.
There’s also an interesting storyline in this class, with Margie White stepping up from her Austin 7 Special to a far quicker Mallock Lotus Mk6B. After competing on Friday, she will return as part of the marshal team for the rest of the weekend — a reminder of the event’s community-driven nature.
Tin-top fans will be drawn to class H8, where several high-profile entries headline the saloon car contingent. Reghard Roets debuts a Nissan Skyline GT-R R34, while Arnold du Plessis brings an R33 GT-R, with Craig Czank adding a third GT-R — an R32 — to the mix. Aldo Scribante also joins the class in an Alfa Romeo 156 GTA, further boosting what is already one of the most eye-catching categories.
In class H7, Eugene Herbert’s Fiat Uno Turbo goes up against Sergio Nobrega’s VW Fox and John Craig in a Nissan Sentra 200 STi, while Andre Steenkamp’s unusual Toyota RAV4 GT4 Turbo adds a wildcard element to the four-cylinder battle.
The H6 category for pre-1975 six-cylinder and V8 saloons features several crowd favourites, including Rui Campos in a Porsche 911 RSR. He will be challenged by Alistair Simpson’s Ford Capri Perana, Paige Lindenberg’s Ford Fairlane and James Temple in a Shelby Daytona, as well as Richard Evans in a Chevrolet Corvette Stingray.
In H5, Silvio Scribante makes his debut in a Ford Escort Mk1, taking on experienced competitors such as Trevor Tuck in an Alfa Romeo Giulietta Ti and Ashley Baud in an Alfa GTV, alongside a strong field of classic four-cylinder racers.
The road-going classes are equally evocative, with Andrew Davey’s Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 and Enzo Kuun’s Ferrari 348 among the highlights in H4, joined by a pair of AC Cobras.
In H3, last year’s winner Jandre Bezuidenhout returns in his Porsche 944 Turbo Cup, facing competition from cars such as a Toyota Corolla two-door and Fiat 131 Abarth.
Further back in time, the H2 class features a mix of rare and historic machinery, including Brian Bruce’s Jaguar D-Type recreation, Peter MacPherson’s Ford GT40 and Douglas Cameron-Short’s Lotus Europa S2, alongside a trio of classic Porsches from the Pickard family.
At the oldest end of the field, the pre-World War II H1 class once again runs on a handicap system, with cars such as Greig Smith’s Austin 7 Single Seater and Rodney Green’s Riley 14/6 Racing competing on precision rather than outright speed.
The 2026 Simola Hillclimb runs from April 30 to May 3, with Classic Car Friday setting the tone for a packed weekend of motorsport on the Garden Route.
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