- Long-standing rivals Andre Bezuidenhout and Robert Wolk will be going head-to-head in equal machinery this year – both driving Gould GR55B hillclimb racing cars
- Three exciting new Investchem MSA4 single-seater race cars set to compete this year, along with Formula Ford and Formula VW entries
- Rui Campos expected to be a strong contender for podium finish once again in roaring V8-powered Shelby CanAm
The Single-Seater, Sports Car and Sports Prototype category at the Simola Hillclimb has the enviable status of being home to the fastest cars on the tight and twisty 1.9 km course – and rightly so, as these thoroughbred machines are specifically designed for agility, speed and racing at the absolute limit.
They may not have the outrageous power and straight-line performance of the radical Modified Saloon Cars which compete in their own category for King of the Hill glory, but the exceptionally low weight combined with carefully honed aerodynamics and purpose-built suspension make the top-tier single-seaters unbeatable up the Simola Hill.
Andre Bezuidenhout has established himself as one of the Simola Hillclimb’s most successful drivers, having scored six consecutive wins between 2017 and 2023. He claimed his first victory in the stunning 1989 Dallara F189 Formula 1 car, and each of his subsequent wins was with his 2007 Gould GR55B – a purpose-built hillclimb racing car produced in the UK. Bezuidenhout currently holds the outright Simola Hillclimb record of 34.161 seconds, achieved in 2022 at an amazing average speed of 200.228 km/h from a standing start.
His challenge for a seventh title last year unfortunately ended before it even started, as the Gould was sidelined with engine trouble during pre-event testing. This left long-time Simola Hillclimb rival and single-seater specialist Robert Wolk to secure his first win driving the 1989 Pillbeam MP58 – a handful of a car with manual shift and limited aerodynamics, powered by a thundering modern Nissan Infinity Indycar V8 engine. Wolk’s best time last year in this 35-year-old car was achieved in the Class Finals at 37.133 seconds – nearly three seconds off Bezuidenhout’s record.
For the 15th edition of the Simola Hillclimb, which takes place from 1 to 4 May 2025, Wolk is set to compete on relatively equal terms, as the Investchem team owned by Ian Schofield has purchased a 2005 Gould GR55B which Wolk will be driving this year. The car was acquired from its previous owner in the UK who was in the process of completely rebuilding it, but it’s still in pieces at the moment. As with Bezuidenhout’s 2007 Gould, it is powered by a V8 Nicholson McLaren engine.
“The WCT Engineering team will be working on putting the Gould back together and getting it ready for the Simola Hillclimb, but they are currently exceptionally busy with our new MSA4 single-seater series project so that is taking priority,” Wolk says. “I’m hoping to drive the Gould before the hillclimb, although with the limited time available we probably won’t have it properly fine-tuned for the first time we run it, but I’m confident we will get our head around it quite quickly.
“I’ve never driven a car like this, but I’m sure it will be a massive step up compared to the much older Pillbeam,” Wolk says. “With the Gould you’ve got much lighter weight, a far better aerodynamic package and sequential shift, so it should be a lot simpler all round, much more enjoyable to drive and a great project to work on with WCT.”
Whether Wolk can challenge Bezuidenhout for victory on his first outing with the new car remains to be seen. However, the combination of Wolk’s extensive experience in single-seater racing and the technical prowess of the WCT team means there’s little doubt that this crew can get the car fairly well sorted and reasonably competitive from the outset, and make it a serious title contender in years to come.
While the two Gould entries will be competing in class C3 for single-seaters (five cylinders and above) and vying for the King of the Hill title, Investchem team owner Ian Schofield proved his mettle last year by finishing second overall in his rapid 2018 Mygale SJ Formula Ford. He will be going up against a pair of Formula VW entries driven by Byron Mitchell and Allen Meyer as they compete for class C2 honours for four-cylinder naturally-aspirated machines.
The MSA4 cars Wolk mentioned are the brainchild of Ian Schofield and an exciting new addition to the South African motorsport scene. Three of these cars will be competing at the Simola Hillclimb, fresh from their inaugural Investchem MSA4 national championship race at Kyalami on 12 April. These innovative new cars replace the now-retired Formula 1600 machines, and are expected to rejuvenate interest in single-seater racing that has launched the careers of many of South Africa’s top racing drivers for decades. Developed and produced by WCT Engineering, the MSA4 is powered by a 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder Volkswagen engine, with a halo-inspired design that ensures the cars are much more advanced and a lot safer than before.
Competing in class C1 for forced-induction cars up to four cylinders, the trio of MSA4 cars will be driven by 2024 Formula 1600 championship runner-up Klayden Cole Ensor-Smith, Investchem development driver Simphiwe Mohlahlo, and Rick Morris, father of former SA Formula Ford and Production Car racing driver Steve Morris.
Competing in class C6 for sports cars and sports prototypes, Rui Campos is sure to be a podium contender in the Top 10 Shootout for King of the Hill once again. He won his class and finished third last year in his brightly coloured 1990 Shelby CanAm, which is powered by a 5.0-litre V8 Ford Mustang engine. He will be joined in C6 by Stefan Wintershoven, driving a 1991 Chevrolet Corvette with a 6.0-litre V8 engine, as well as Johan Bekker in a 2.0-litre turbocharged Honda-powered 2010 Ariel Atom.
The 15th edition of the Simola Hillclimb takes place from 1 to 4 May 2025.
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