The 16th edition of the Simola Hillclimb is shaping up to be a proper humdinger, with two of the event’s most successful drivers ready to go head-to-head in near-identical cars for the first time.
Andre Bezuidenhout, the six-time winner and current record-holder, will be back behind the wheel of his 2007 Gould GR55 after missing the last two events. His return means a proper showdown with reigning champion Robert Wolk, who also happens to be driving a Gould GR55 these days.
For years, the two have battled it out in very different single-seaters. That changes now.
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Bezuidenhout’s Gould is the same machine that blasted up the 1,9 km course in 34,161 seconds back in 2022, hitting an average speed of 200,228 km/h from a standing start – a run that underlined Simola’s reputation as one of the quickest hillclimbs around. He won his sixth straight title the following year, but then came the engine trouble.
“Team Perfect Circle and I are looking forward to returning for the 2026 Simola Hillclimb,” says Bezuidenhout. “We have been absent from the King of the Hill category for the past two years following significant engine damage to the Gould during preparations for 2024. The car’s engine has since been fully rebuilt by McLaren in England, and early indications are very positive.”
He adds that preparations are well under way, with a new livery and close work with their UK engineering team to squeeze out every bit of performance.
Meanwhile, Wolk’s Investchem team only got their 2005 Gould GR55 just before last year’s event – and it arrived in boxes, not exactly race-ready. WCT Engineering worked around the clock to get it to the starting line, and the multiple champion still managed a 36,140-second run in second qualifying, less than two seconds off the record despite barely any time in the car. A faulty electronic sensor put him out on the final day, handing the win to Byron Mitchell in a Formula VW Reynard.
Now, with a full year to test and fine-tune, Wolk will be back. And the crowd will be watching.
Other classes to watch
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In class C2 for single-seaters up to four cylinders naturally aspirated, Ian Schofield returns in his 2018 Mygale Formula Ford. He’ll face Theodore Vermaak in a Forza Formula Vee and Johannes Gerber in a Van Diemen powered by a KTM motorcycle engine.
Class C1 features forced-induction cars up to four cylinders. Devin Robertson is back for the first time since 2023 in the Radical Pro Sport with a Hayabusa engine. UK-based Rick Morris returns in his EcoBoost Formula Ford. Two woman drivers join the class too – Simphiwe Mohlahlo in an MSA4 and Nicole Donker making her Simola debut in a Formula Vee, both running turbocharged 1,0-litre three-cylinder VW motors.
Over in the sports prototypes, two Ligier JS53 Evo 2s will make their first appearance, driven by Connor Kilbride and Juan Stander. Both run the respected Honda K-series engine.
“I was at Simola last year as a spectator, so it’s great to be competing,” says Stander. “This will be my first hillclimb event. The Ligier doesn’t launch that quickly, but it has good downforce and it’s amazing through the corners.”
Modified saloons and big power
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Pieter Zeelie is the man to beat in the Modified Saloon Car category. He won his second King of the Hill title last year in the rear-wheel drive Toyota MR2 Super GT, setting a new class record of 37,090 seconds. That was 3,3 seconds faster than his 2021 winning time and quicker than Franco Scribante’s previous record in the four-wheel drive Nissan GT-R.
Zeelie reckons the MR2’s lower weight is the main advantage, even if the four-wheel drive cars get better traction off the line. Downforce and agility count for plenty in the tight second half of the course.
“We’ve made a few improvements in power, handling and aerodynamics,” says Zeelie. “My goal is to give it my best, and hopefully that will be enough to improve on my record. The competition keeps getting stronger every year.”
One of the bigger talking points is Volkswagen Motorsport’s new entry, built locally in Kariega. Based on a four-wheel drive Golf R with Audi’s turbocharged five-cylinder engine, it will be driven by SupaCup champion Jonathan Mogotsi.
For its 2026 campaign, Suzuki is levelling the playing field by running four identical Swift 1.2 GL+ manual hatchbacks. Endowed with a low kerb weight of 917kg, each is powered by the brand’s 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine, producing 60kW at 5,700rpm and 112Nm at 4,300rpm. This gives the car a frisky power-to-weight ratio, which is beneficial when it comes to off-the-line acceleration. Riding on an extremely rigid ‘HEARTECT’ platform with recalibrated suspension, the fourth-generation Swift will also allow the four media racers to push their cornering speeds with confidence.
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“Someone, somewhere is probably looking at this whole thing and saying, ‘that Swift doesn’t belong on a hillclimb.’ And that’s exactly why we’re doing it,” explains motoring journalist Avon Middleton. “Motorsport has always been about possibility and courage, and there’s something very Suzuki about proving that you don’t need the biggest engine to take on the biggest challenge. I’m all in!”
Another competitor who’s all in and ready to put it on the line is YouTube content creator, sim racer and avid rally fan, Girlie Lukhele.
“Going from sim racing to the hot seat at the Simola Hillclimb is going to be a whole new ball game,” says the Driving with Girlie host. “I cannot wait to take on the hill this year behind the wheel of the fearless and confident Swift. Expect nothing less than a ‘swift’ and epic performance from the entire Suzuki team!”
A main rival to Lukhele, both in front of the camera and behind the steering wheel, is Ziphorah Masethe. This year, the Ignition TV regular will be trading her presenter duties for a chance to take on the challenging 1,9 km Simola Hill.
