The Modified Saloon Car category at the Simola Hillclimb has always delivered an epic battle of power and performance. The 15th edition, which takes place from 1 to 4 May 2025, ups the ante even further with an exceptional list of serious contenders for the title, including a superstar international driver.
Volkswagen Group Africa is raising the stakes by bringing seven-time World Rallycross champion, Johan Kristoffersson (photo), to compete at this year’s Simola Hillclimb. The Swedish ace will be behind the wheel of his championship-winning Volkswagen Polo RX1e – an all-electric car that dominated the 2022 and 2023 World Rallycross Championship (WRX).
“We are thrilled to have Johan Kristoffersson joining us for the 15th Simola Hillclimb and appreciate the immense effort Volkswagen has gone to in order to bring a driver of his calibre and status, along with his championship-winning car, to compete at our event,” says Ian Shrosbree, MD of Knysna Speed Festival, which owns the Simola Hillclimb.
One of the Polo RX1e’s main advantages will be the instant performance delivered by its 500kW electric drivetrain, which catapults the car from zero to 100km/h in just 1.8s.
Playing the power game, Franco Scribante’s radical multi-winged 2019 Nissan R35 GT-R is rumoured to have an estimated 1 175kW on tap. This makes his car, which is known as ‘The Sheriff’, one of the wildest and fastest cars in the world, capable of topping 250km/h on the Simola Hillclimb’s longest straight.
As ever, there will be an enthralling tussle between Franco and the BB Motorsport Nissan R35 GT-R driven by Reghard Roets for the class B5 honours and the overall win. Significantly different in concept to the time attack-inspired aerodynamics on Scribante’s car, ‘Armageddon’, as Roets’s car is known, uses a far simpler aero package that seems just as effective.
The two rivals traded fastest times during practice and qualifying last year, but Reghard dropped out of contention with a broken front differential after a full-power start in the final qualifying session. Although he has three consecutive King of the Hill titles under his belt in the Road Car and Supercar category, Reghard is more determined than ever to secure his first Modified Saloon Car win this year.
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Mahindra & Mahindra has unveiled the Scorpio Lifestyler, a midsize lifestyle bakkie derived from the Global Pik Up concept first shown in Cape Town in 2023.
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Sarah Redshaw
Dunlop Tyres South Africa has completed a R1.7 billion investment programme at its uMnambithi (Ladysmith) manufacturing facility, introducing new manufacturing technology and expanding production capabilities at the plant.
The South African automotive industry has gained some breathing space following the latest move by the United States Senate to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act, or AGOA, to the end of 2028.
General Motors (GM) has renewed its joint venture with China's SAIC Motor Corp for another 20 years, enabling the United States (US) automaker to use China as an export hub amid rising competition from Chinese brands in and outside their home market.
