FAQ’s

The Simola Hillclimb is widely regarded as South Africa’s premier annual motoring and motorsport lifestyle event, delivering an unparalleled mix of high-adrenaline action in an accessible and enthralling format designed for the whole family.
First staged in 2009, the Simola Hillclimb has rapidly grown from humble beginnings to become the must-attend event of the year for spectators and many of the biggest names in motorsport. It also attracts high-profile celebrities, having hosted the likes of Hollywood star Sharlto Copley, Miss South Africa and Miss Universe Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, as well as several Springbok rugby players including captains Eben Etzebeth and Siya Kolisi.
The event also has a Fan Fest element which takes place in central Knysna incorporating the scrutineering of the race cars, race car parade and exhibits and activities throughout the weekend.
The sixteenth edition of the Hillclimb takes place from 30 April to 3 May 2026 in the beautiful Garden Route town of Knysna. Ticket sales for the 2026 Simola Hillclimb will open in the latter half of 2025 and can be purchased online. Enjoy exceptional value with our General Entry, Pit Access, and Weekend Passes. Exclusive VIP Hospitality packages will also be available. Stay tuned for updates!

Entries for the Simola Hillclimb open 01 October – 31 January each year.

To enter, prospective competitors must:

Submit a Request for Invitation via the Simola Hillclimb website during the entry window.

Provide details of the driver, car, and motorsport history.

Await review by the event’s Selection Committee, who evaluates all applications.

Click here for futher info.

The current lap record is 34.161 seconds, set by Andre Bezuidenhout in Gould GR55 in Single Seaters and Sportscars Shootout at Simola Hillclimb 2022

The Simola Hillclimb receives more applications than available slots. To ensure a balanced and exciting field, the organisers consider several factors, including:

Driver Criteria

• Drivers should have competed in at least 3 sanctioned motorsport events.
• Driving experience, race discipline, and safety record are considered.
• Former overall winners or well-known drivers may be prioritised based on spectator appeal.

Vehicle Criteria

• Cars must comply with the technical rules of their class.
• Certain cars may be preferred based on their uniqueness, engineering quality, heritage value, or crowd appeal.
• For Classic Car Friday: cars must meet period-correct requirements.
• For King of the Hill: cars must fit into the A, B, or C classes (road-going, modified, or competition vehicles).

Application Balance

The organisers also look at:

• How many cars are already in each class (aim is at least 3 per class).
• Avoiding too many duplicates of the same model.
• Ensuring diversity across the entry list.
• Whether the same car/driver combination has appeared repeatedly (to keep the field fresh each year).

Event Value

The selection team aims to create:

• A strong sporting field
• A diverse mix of cars for fans
• A safe and professionally run competition

Note: Entry is not first-come-first-served. All applications within the window are reviewed equally.

Tickets can be purchased online in the lead up to the event. General Access, Pit Access and Grandstand Upgrade tickets can also be purchased at the Main and Pit ticket gates over the weekend of the event.

Hospitality Tickets will not be for sale at the Event Grounds.

Please note:  The number of Ticket Upgrades, such as Pit Access and Grandstand seating, are limited. Should they sell out online, additional tickets will not be made available.

Click here to get your tickets now!

The Simola Hill is on Old Cape Road which is the road to the Simola Golf and Country Estate in Knysna, Western Cape, South Africa.
From the N2 on the George/Western side of Knysna, follow signs up the Old Cape Road to get to the event.
Click here to open a Google Map.

PUBLIC PARKING
Parking is available in the Main Public Parking area which gives access via the Main Ticket Entrance into Gasoline Alley midway up the hill. The parking is on a grass field and not suitable for low vehicles.
After purchasing/redeeming your entry tickets, proceed via the bridge into Gasoline Alley ( See Spectator map here).
**Should there be rain, we encourage passenger cars to make use of the shuttle service leaving from the Knysna Bowling Club, Trotter Street. The shuttles will run directly to the Main Ticket Entrance and Pit Ticket Entrance gates.

P1: VIP PARKING
P1: VIP Parking allows a ticket holder to park closer to the Pits in a field nearby. Please proceed into the Public Parking entrance on Old Cape Road and follow the signage to the Paddock Gate for P1 : VIP Parking and access pass collection which is located on the event grounds near the Public Parking area.

Please have your printed P1 VIP Parking tickets and any other tickets ready for scanning. You will be issued with a parking sticker which you need to attach to your car windscreen. Without this sticker, you will not have access into the P1 VIP Parking.

If you have General Entry tickets, the elderly and young children should be dropped off at the Pit Ticket Entrance before you return to the main public parking entry point as there is fair walk along a dirt road from the P1 VIP Parking to the Pit Ticket Entrance.

General Entry ticket holders will need to walk from the P1 VIP Parking to the Pit Ticket Entrance Gate to gain access to the event. If you have purchased a Pit Access upgrade, you will have access to the Pits via the back entrance.

We do have free PG Glass public shuttles transporting attendees between the main ticket and the pit ticket gates.

VIP Entry tickets will allow access directly into the Pit lane from the back entrance.
PLEASE NOTE: Please ensure that you have a printed QR code ticket or a copy of the QR code on your phone, in order to redeem your P1: VIP Parking Sticker from the Paddocks Ticket gate.

LE MANS VIP LOUNGE PARKING
The Le Mans VIP Lounge parking area is in the P1 VIP Parking area. You will receive one P1 VIP Parking sticker for every 2 Le Mans tickets. In case of rain, we advise that you catch the Shuttle that leaves from Knysna Bowling Club, Trotter Street, Knysna. The Shuttle (R35 per person return) will take you to the Pit Ticket Entrance, which is a short walk away from the Le Mans VIP Lounge facility.

Gates open at 07h30am. Please note that Hospitality facilities will open at 07h45 on Friday and 08h30 on Saturday and Sunday.

In 2026 , the Welcome Centre will be at the Knysna Bowling Club on the corner of Rawson Street and Hedge Street, Knysna. Please access the venue from Hedge Street.

Thursday 30 April | 07h00 – 17h00
Friday 1 May | 07h00 – 18h00
Saturday 2 May | 07h00 – 15h00
Sunday 3 May | 07h00 – 12h00

Cars will be on track from 08h30 to 15h00 (Friday), 09h00 to 17h00 (Saturday) and 16h00 (Sunday) with a one hour lunch break. Please see the event schedule here.

Event programmes will be available at the ticket gates.

Yes, there will be various food stalls available in the following areas:

• The general public area near the Pits;
• Turn 2 near the Grandstand;
• Gasoline Alley;
• The Esses

PLEASE NOTE: No alcohol can be brought into the event. Alcohol is available for purchase at the bars in the above mentioned areas. Please see Event Rules the here.

Yes. There will be an ATM at the Pit Ticket Entrance, just beyond the Ticket Gate.

Yes. Please see the Event Rules here.

Please contact info@speedfestival.co.za to make the necessary arrangements for viewing from our designated wheelchair viewing area.
PLEASE NOTE: Spectating in this area will be limited to 2 people per group.

The action can be viewed all along the track. The most popular areas are:

• The area above the pits is generally accessible and spectators will be able to see the pit activity and the start line action;
• Turn 2 where you can see the car leave the start, negotiate corners 1 and 2 and then blast up the hill to their maximum speeds;
• Turn 3 (Bridge corner) at Gasoline Alley where you will see the cars enter at high speed, negotiate a tight left handed off-camber corner and then accelerate up the hill.
• The Esses, located near the top of the hill, between turns 4 and 5, The Esses offer you a birds-eye view of the cars emerging from under the bridge, powering up the second straight, before pitching into turn 4 and then disappearing around turn 5.

See the Spectator Viewing Guide page for further details.

We recommended ear protection for all attendees and especially for kids. Hearing protection will be available free of charge at the entry gates.

We will have paramedics on site at both the Pits and Gasoline Alley.

No – come dressed in what makes you comfortable!
However, for Classic Car Friday we are encouraging our guests to dress up in 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s outfits. Pick the era of your favourite car and dress up in support. Just choose any period for the fun of it.

No. For safety, security, and the welfare of your pet, animals are not allowed at the event. This applies to all spectator and participant areas. Please see the Event Rules for full details. Please see the Event Rules here.

The action can be viewed via television and live stream. The live stream feed will be via our YouTube Channel.

Thank you for your interest in being part of the team! To let us know you’re available to assist, please email info@speedfestival.co.za. We’ll be in touch with more details!

No. Drones are strictly prohibited for all attendees, including media. Only the official event drone, operated by an accredited and approved supplier, is permitted to fly.