Shelby Super Snakes and historic Ford Mustangs ready to thrill petrolheads at Simola Hillclimb
The seventh-generation Mustang GT and Mustang Dark Horse will make their first appearances at the popular Simola Hillclimb this weekend, 2 to 4 May, in Knysna.
Lindenberg Racing and Shelby South Africa have six Shelby vehicles competing in the King of The Hill.
The 1965 Ford GT40 will compete in Classic Car on Friday, paying tribute to the historic win at Le Mans in 1966.
This weekend, I will be crying in a corner and suffering from serious FOMO because I won't be attending the Simola Hillclimb, which has taken place annually in Knysna since 2009.
I'll miss Classic Car Friday and the annual parade of epic race cars through the sleepy town. I won't be cheering for my friend and fellow motoring journalist, Jeanette Kok-Kritzinger, who will pilot the only Suzuki Swift Sport up the hill. Jeanette still holds the South African record for the fastest woman, breaking the local land speed record in a Ford Mustang a couple of decades ago.
Speaking of Ford, this year's event will also feature a variety of Ford and Ford-powered cars, with an expected 20 000-strong spectator crowd over the three-day event.
This will be the seventh-generation Mustang's first appearance at the event as the Mustang GT and Mustang Dark Horse are raring to gallop up the 1.9km Simola Hill.
MasterDrive, partners to the Simola Hillclimb official safety car and VIP hospitality rides, will use the latest Mustang GT. At the same time, current South African Rally-Raid Championship driver Lance Woolridge will swap his familiar Ford NWM Rangers cockpit for the Mustang Dark Horse's to perform exhibition runs. With its advanced fourth-generation 5.0-litre Coyote V8 powertrain and unmistakable exterior design cues, the Mustang promises to put on a show and thrill those who get a chance to experience what it's like to sprint up the hill.
The performance-focused Shelby brand will attempt to win their respective categories with vehicles steeped in motorsport heritage.
Competing in their 12th Simola Hillclimb, with more than 4 000kW, Lindenberg Racing and Shelby South Africa are fielding the most cars in one team at the event. Their track record of success in previous years sets high expectations for their performance in 2025, with six Shelbys competing in the King of The Hill under the all-new Team Shelby Racing umbrella.
They will be running three Ford-powered cars in Classic Car Friday. James Temple will be driving his 1965 Shelby Daytona Coupe, which boasts a potent 5.8-litre Ford V8 engine producing 390kW. Paige Lindenberg will be hustling her Ford Fairlane V8, and Djurk Venter will return to the event with the 1972 Group 2 Capri Perana.
A diverse line-up of six Shelby Mustangs will tackle the demanding Hillclimb course in the King of the Hill Challenge on Saturday and Sunday. Temple will be behind the rare Shelby Wide Body Super Snake wheel. Lindenberg will pilot the Shelby Speedster alongside Joshua O'Callaghan, Vinesh Padayachy, Deon Smit and Paul Malatjie in a trio of Super Snakes.
Also competing in Classic Car Friday is a recreation of a 1965 Ford GT40 driven by Peter MacPherson. The GT40 has achieved numerous podium finishes at the famed Simola Hillclimb, including winning its class at last year's event. The car pays tribute to the historic win by Ford and Shelby at Le Mans in 1966.
It celebrates these two legendary automotive brands' incredible performance, endurance and resilience legacy. Powered by a naturally aspirated 4.9-litre V8 engine, this South African-built Ford GT40 tribute car will undoubtedly be a major highlight at the 2025 Classic Car Friday event.
Bonafide race cars such as the two March single-seaters driven by Charles Arton and Ian Schofield are powered by the legendary Ford Cosworth BDG engine, as is Franco Scribante's Chevron. Single-seater Formula Ford cars, powered by the Ford Kent engine and driven by Robert Wolk and Simphiwe Mohlahlo, will also be pushed to their limit.
For enthusiasts who cannot attend the Simola Hillclimb in person, the entire event—three days of competition—is live-streamed. The live stream is free and can be accessed via the website www.simolahillclimb.com.
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