Latest news with #KnysnaSpeedFestival
Daily Maverick
04-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Maverick
Tragedy strikes at Simola Hillclimb as esteemed racer Pieter Joubert dies in crash
Joubert was on his first run on day two of the King of the Hill event when he lost control of his Lotus on the fast uphill straight and veered off the course. The South African motorsport community is in mourning after seasoned Simola Hillclimb competitor Pieter Joubert died in a crash on Sunday morning. A respected figure in the racing world, Joubert was known not only for his skill and passion, but also for his humility and generosity off the track. Knysna Speed Festival, the organisers of the Simola Hillclimb, said Joubert was on his first run on day two of the King of the Hill event when he lost control of his Lotus on the fast uphill straight and veered off the course. He was pronounced dead on the scene. His family, who attended the event, were being supported by the organisers. 'We are exceptionally saddened by this incident, and our thoughts and condolences are with Pieter's family, team and friends,' said Ian Shrosbree, the MD of Knysna Speed Festival. 'Pieter's brothers, Dawie and Charl, who have also been competing, have expressed their wishes that we continue with the event.' In a video posted to the Volkswagen Motorsport ZA Facebook page, Martina Biene, the chairperson and managing director of Volkswagen Group Africa, said, 'This is a very sad day for the Motorsport community and the Simola Hillclimb. My heartfelt condolences go to the Joubert family and the entire motorsport community. 'As per the wish of the family, we as Volkswagen have decided to continue racing in honour of the Joubert family. But it is still upon the individual decisions of our Volkswagen drivers whether they want to continue to participate in the race or not. We race in honour of the Joubert family.' The organisers of Simola Hillclimb, together with spectators and fellow racers, observed a minute of silence in honour of Joubert earlier on Sunday. Other supporters of the sport also took to social media to share their condolences. Chris de Weerdt said, 'In the world of motorsport, where egos can often run as fast as the machines, Pieter Joubert stood out. Not just for his skill behind the wheel, but for his humility, passion, and unwavering sportsmanship. 'A true racing enthusiast, Pieter was more than just a competitor. He was a cornerstone of the South African racing scene and an inspiration to those who knew him. 'From the moment he first stepped onto the track, Pieter displayed a natural talent and an unrelenting drive to push limits. Whether he was tearing down the straight or fine tuning his car late into the night, racing wasn't just a sport to him.' De Weerdt said racing was a way of life for Joubert. 'Those who raced with him knew they were up against someone who combined fierce competitiveness with deep respect for the game. 'But what truly set Pieter apart wasn't just his podium finishes or track times. It was his character. 'Despite his many achievements, Pieter remained grounded and approachable. He was always the first to lend a hand in the pits or share advice with younger drivers. 'He earned respect not through bravado, but through kindness, consistency, and dedication. 'In a sport driven by adrenaline and rivalry, Pieter brought heart. He reminded everyone that greatness isn't just measured in speed, but in how you carry yourself on and off the track. 'Today, the racing community mourns the loss of one of its finest. But more than that, it celebrates a man who gave his all to the sport he loved and left an indelible mark on South African motorsport history.'
The Citizen
04-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Legendary driver Pieter Joubert passes away after crash at Simola Hillclimb
The Knysna Speed Festival, organisers of the Simola Hillclimb, confirmed that seasoned competitor Pieter Joubert passed away in an accident this morning. The organisers released a statement saying that Joubert was on his first run of the day at King of the Hill when he lost control of his Lotus on the fast uphill straight and veered off the course, apparently due to a mechanical failure. Joubert was pronounced dead at the scene. His family, who are in attendance, are being supported by the organisers. 'We are exceptionally saddened by this incident, and our thoughts and condolences are with Pieter's family, team and friends,' says Ian Shrosbree, MD of Knysna Speed Festival. 'Pieter's brothers Dawie and Charl, who have also been competing, have expressed their wishes that we continue with the event.' VIDEO: Legendary driver Pieter Joubert passes away after crash At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
News24
04-05-2025
- Automotive
- News24
Heartbreak in Knysna as racing driver dies at 15th Simola Hillclimb
What was meant to be one of the most exciting events of the year on the South African motorsport calendar has ended in heartbreak as racing driver Pieter Joubert died at the 15th Simola Hillclimb in Knysna on Sunday morning. "Knysna Speed Festival, the organisers of the Simola Hillclimb, have confirmed seasoned competitor Pieter Joubert sadly passed away in an accident today," the organisers said. "Joubert was out on his first run on day two of King of the Hill when he lost control of his Lotus on the fast uphill straight and veered off the course after it appeared that something broke on the car. "The scene was immediately attended to by the event's on-site medical, fire and emergency crews, but sadly, Joubert was pronounced deceased on the scene. Authorities are following all of the required protocols for an incident of this nature." His family, in attendance at the event, are being supported by the organisers. Pieter was driving the #40 2006 Lotus Exige with a 6.2-litre naturally-aspirated V8 Mercedes-AMG engine under the bonnet. While some racing drivers and spectators have packed up early after the tragic incident, the event will continue later on Sunday afternoon at the request of the Joubert family. Pieter, along with his two brothers, Dawie and Charl Joubert, has been a regular competitor at the annual motorsport event, which sees thousands of South Africans make their way to the picturesque town of Knysna for the three-day event. This is the first fatal accident during the event's 15-year history. According to the event spokesperson, the Joubert family expressed their wishes that the event continues in honour of Pieter. Some of the competitors have elected to withdraw, and all the demo runs have been cancelled. A shortened programme is likely to resume on Sunday afternoon. "We are exceptionally saddened by this incident, and our thoughts and condolences are with Pieter's family, team and friends," says Ian Shrosbree, MD of Knysna Speed Festival. "Pieter's brothers Dawie and Charl, who have also been competing, have expressed their wishes for us to continue with the event." Below is an interview with Pieter in 2022:
IOL News
04-05-2025
- Automotive
- IOL News
Racing driver Pieter Joubert tragically killed in Simola Hillclimb crash
Driver Pieter Joubert passed away while competing in his modified Lotus Exige. The 2025 Simola Hillclimb motorsport event has taken a tragic turn, with the passing of seasoned competitor Pieter Joubert during an accident on Sunday morning. Joubert was performing his first qualifying run of the day when his yellow Mercedes-AMG V8-powered Lotus Exige veered off the course and crashed into trees. Witnesses said it appeared as if a component of his car broke. On-site emergency crews attended to the scene immediately, but sadly Joubert was pronounced deceased on the scene. Organisers later announced that the Hillclimb King of the Hill event would resume at 1pm on Sunday, at the request of Joubert's family, who insisted that the show must go on in his honour. 'We are exceptionally saddened by this incident, and our thoughts and condolences are with Pieter's family, team and friends,' says Ian Shrosbree, MD of Knysna Speed Festival. 'Pieter's brothers Dawie and Charl, who have also been competing, have expressed their wishes that we continue with the event.' Joubert was a seasoned competitor in the Simola Hillclimb event and in Saturday's third qualifying session he was fastest in class B7, and 13th quickest overall in his #30 Lotus sports car. The Simola Hillclimb event is currently in its 15th year; this is the first time that a competitor has passed away while competing in the competition. IOL Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel
The South African
04-05-2025
- The South African
Simola Hillclimb rocked by tragic death of seasoned competitor
Knysna Speed Festival, the organisers of the Simola Hillclimb, have confirmed seasoned competitor Pieter Joubert sadly passed away in an accident on Saturday. Joubert was out on his first run on day two of King of the Hill when he lost control of his Lotus on the fast uphill straight and veered off the course, after it appeared that something broke on the car. The scene was immediately attended to by the event's on-site medical, fire and emergency crews, but sadly Joubert was pronounced deceased on the scene. Authorities are following all of the required protocols for an incident of this nature. The family, who is in attendance at the event, are being supported by the organisers. 'We are exceptionally saddened by this incident, and our thoughts and condolences are with Pieter's family, team and friends,' says Ian Shrosbree, MD of Knysna Speed Festival. 'Pieter's brothers Dawie and Charl, who have also been competing, have expressed their wishes that we continue with the event.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
