The Knysna Speed Festival story began in 2009 with the first running of the Simola Hillclimb. From humble beginnings the event exploded in 2010 and, although it is a relatively new fixture on the South African motorsport calendar, it has already positioned itself as arguably the premier event on the South African motorsport scene.
With the Renault Simola Hillclimb well established after two years, the organisers began developing the second phase of the Knysna Speed Festival in 2011 by adding the Knysna Kart Grand Prix, Knysna Motor Show, Knysna Slot Car Challenge, Knysna Soap Box Derby and the Knysna Speed Festival Golf Day to the programme.
While the Renault Simola Hillclimb will always remain the core event, the Knysna Speed Festival is now far more than just a single motorsport race. The festival is the first multiple-event motorsport and motoring gathering of its kind ever to be organised in South Africa and while there is still a way to go to make it an essential annual fixture for fans and competitors, the concept has already been widely accepted by competitors and public alike. In time to come we trust it will become the South African version of the Daytona Speed Week held annually in the USA and the Goodwood Festival and Revival in the UK.
For 2012 we have tweaked the Hillclimb by expanding to three days and offering the Vintage, Classic and Historic motoring fraternity their own day of action on the Hill. Classic Car Friday will exclusively feature pre-1974 vehicles and competitors and spectators are encouraged to attend in period dress.
Moving away from high speed action, we have added the Knysna Speed Festival 4x4 Challenge and 4x4 Forest Drive to the programme. The 4x4 Challenge will be a competitive event with competitors required to complete some seriously difficult obstacles, while the 4x4 Forest Drives will give participants the unique opportunity to traverse roads in the Knysna forests that are normally out of bounds to the public in an environmentally sensitive manner.
The Knysna Speed Festival’s aim is to attract visitors to the beautiful town of Knysna to enjoy a relaxed atmosphere of motorsport and motoring activities. The week incorporates a variety of events that will not only boost economic activity in the town, but will also benefit our nominated charities.
With this as the basis, it is the organiser's goal to build the Knysna Speed Festival into a unique South African event that brings together a mixture of motoring elements into a celebrated week-long jamboree of excitement, challenges, fun and enjoyment. Don’t miss it!