Suzuki Auto South Africa is revving up for another high-octane weekend in Knysna as the 16th Simola Hillclimb blasts off from April 30. The brand has been a loyal supporter of the event since 2021, and it’s doubling down on the partnership with a new three-year Tier One OEM deal that will keep Suzuki in the spotlight from 2026 to 2028.
What began back in 2009 as a small, slightly dusty hillclimb with a handful of entrants and about 1 500 curious spectators has grown into South Africa’s premier motoring spectacle. These days, the Simola Hillclimb draws more than 20 000 fans, a healthy dose of international competitors, and a global livestream audience tuning in to watch the action unfold.
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Brendon Carpenter, Suzuki Auto South Africa’s Brand Marketing Manager, says the event hits all the right notes for the brand.
“The Simola Hillclimb has a magic that just works for Suzuki. The setting, the people, the energy — it all fits with our mission to turn everyday moments into proper adventures. Over the past five years, this partnership has given us a chance to show off our cars in a high-adrenaline environment while connecting with enthusiasts who share our love for fun and performance.”
For the fifth year running, Suzuki will unleash a squad of race?ready machines piloted by some of the country’s top motoring media personalities. The 2026 King of the Hill lineup features Avon Middleton (Top Gear South Africa), Samuel Da Fonseca (The Car Scene), Ziphorah Masethe (Ignition TV) and Girlie Lukhele (Driving with Girlie).
Each driver will be strapped into an identical Suzuki Swift GL+ hatchback, all competing for class glory. Fans can catch the cars — and their brave pilots — in the ever?popular King of the Hill Parade at the Knysna Waterfront on Friday, 1 May.
The fourth?generation Swift is no stranger to Simola’s twists and climbs. With a feather?light kerb weight of 917 kg and Suzuki’s punchy Z12E 1,2?litre three?cylinder engine (60 kW at 5 700 r/min and 112 Nm at 4 300 r/min), the little hatch delivers a lively power-to-weight ratio. It’s the kind of setup that helps drivers rocket off the line and slice through the hill’s tight corners with surprising enthusiasm.
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But Suzuki isn’t stopping at four wheels. The brand will also roll out its special?edition Hayabusa Ultimate Sportbike for a series of demo runs. The beast will be ridden by Jaco Viviers, Dealer Principal at Suzuki Richards Bay and a committed motorcycle racer in his own right.
Viviers’ track experience gives him a deep understanding of Suzuki’s performance DNA — and with 140kW on tap and a top speed nudging 299 km/h, the Hayabusa promises to be a crowd?pleaser every time it thunders past the grandstands.
“We’re thrilled to be heading into our sixth year at Simola,” Carpenter says. “Whether it’s our Swift hatchbacks battling it out for King of the Hill or the Hayabusa lighting up the course on two wheels, this event gives us the perfect platform to celebrate Suzuki’s spirit of performance and adventure.”
Colin Windell for Colin-on-Cars in association with
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