• All four Suzuki Swift entries pass scrutineering without issue
  • Standard cars confirmed and ready for competitive action from Saturday
  • Strong crowd turnout for traditional Knysna parade
  • Focus shifts to Practice and Qualifying for King of the Hill contenders this weekend

Suzuki Auto South Africa’s quartet of Swift GL+ entries has officially cleared scrutineering as the 2026 Simola Hillclimb gets underway in Knysna.

With Friday dedicated to Classic Car Friday on the Hill, the King of the Hill contenders completed their scrutineering checks, confirming that all four Suzuki entries are ready for action when the competitive programme begins on Saturday.

Running in standard specification, the Swifts sailed through the process with minimal fuss. Suzuki Team Manager Corrie Meyer highlighted the straightforward nature of the inspection.

“Our four Swifts are stock standard, with only the required safety equipment added,” said Meyer. “As a result, scrutineering was largely a formality for us. That said, the officials were thorough, ensuring that all safety elements – from the cars themselves to the drivers’ protective clothing and helmets – meet the required standards.”

With the technical checks complete, attention shifted to one of the event’s most popular traditions: the parade through Knysna. All four competing Swifts took part, greeted by large crowds lining the route, reinforcing the event’s strong connection with the local community.

Suzuki’s motorcycle line-up added further flair to the spectacle, with the Hayabusa Ultimate Sportbike proving a standout attraction among spectators.

Looking ahead, the focus now turns to the weekend’s competitive action, with Suzuki’s four drivers set to tackle the Simola hill for the first time on Saturday. A series of official practice runs will allow them to get to grips with the demanding course and their cars, before progressing into qualifying later in the day.

While the overall King of the Hill title will be contested among the event’s top machinery, the battle within the Suzuki camp promises to be just as compelling. With four identical Swift GL+ models on the entry list, the spotlight will be firmly on the drivers as they compete head-to-head for unofficial bragging rights as the ‘King of the Swifts’.

The event concludes on Sunday, when the final shootouts will determine the 2026 King of the Hill, bringing another thrilling edition of South Africa’s premier hillclimb to a close.