PETROLHEAD NIRVANA

Peeking over the clouds and onto the lush greenery of the Knysna landscape, the 13th edition of the prestigious Simola Hillclimb had the sun prevail through the tumultuous weekend weather moments before the King of the Hill Challenge was about to get underway

- Alex Shahini

Sunday. King of the Hill. Marc Coetzer, media liaison on the ground for the event, briskly approached me at the bivouac with specific instructions to board the media shuttle and travel up the 1,9-km stretch of road and into the Simola Golf and Country Estate. There, on the grass helipad at the summit of the hill, awaited the helicopter that would provide me a front-row seat to the herculean machinery that was vying for the prestigious title.

The overcast, gloomy and wet weather was clearing! "It wouldn't be the Simola Hillclimb without a little bit of rain, now, would it?" These words were liberally echoed around the pit lane by seasoned drivers and attendees before I made my endeavour to get airborne.

Although some overnight rain and a brief downpour at noon would dampen the track and drench spectators, their spirits remained unscathed courtesy of theatrical runs by the likes of Petter Solberg and Jason Webb.

In a matter of minutes, the helicopter was primed and ready to fly, the sun finally overcoming the clouds and dappling the vast landscape with warmth and light. Strapped in, with headphones on - radio check - the altimeter began to climb. The only thing missing in this scenario was "Fortunate Son" by CCR playing in the background.

While the guitar solo stuck in my head, down below, bespoke GT-Rs and open-wheel single-seaters were charging up the hill.

The prospect of besting the all-time 1,9-km. record from 2022 is a tall ask considering the far-from-ideal air- and track conditions. That being said, how does Andre Bezuiden hout's record time of 34,161 from last year sound? Almost as impressive as the thunderous 3,8 litre V8 behind the cockpit of the Gould GR55. For those like me that aren't math inclined, that time over the Simola distance equates to an average speed of 200,228 km/h - mind boggling, considering drop-offs into wooded ravines alongside the slithering tarmac.