King of the Hill: The Manufacturers’ War Ignites the 2026 Simola Hillclimb
The mist over the Knysna lagoon had barely cleared before the roar of engines, and the earth-shaking antics of anti-lag signalled the start of the 16th Simola Hillclimb. This wasn't just a race; it was a high-stakes showdown where South Africa’s automotive giants—Mercedes-AMG, BMW, Volkswagen, and Stellantis—went head-to-head on the infamous 1.9km strip of tarmac.
If you’ve been following the AutoTrader social media updates, you’ll know the energy was electric. From hybrid hyper-hatches to screaming single-seaters, 2026 proved that the Hill remains the ultimate test of engineering and nerve.
Related: Suzuki Swifts Stun at Simola 2026
The ultimate passenger experience: 16 Runs, 50 Smiles
There is no better way to share the passion than from the driver’s seat. This weekend, I had the privilege of piloting the Mercedes-AMG C63 S E Performance up the hill for a series of passenger hot laps.
Over the course of the event, I completed 16 full-tilt runs, giving over 50 passengers a firsthand taste of what a fast car feels like up the world's fastest hill climb. The adrenaline in the cabin was infectious; it’s one thing to see these cars on a screen, but quite another to feel the launch control and the handling prowess as we hunted the summit.
The best part? After the final flag dropped, I didn't load the car onto a trailer. In the truest spirit of the gentleman racer, I followed the old-school mantra: "Race on Sunday, drive home on Monday." I turned the dial back to Comfort and drove that same C63 S all the way home, a testament to the incredible dual-purpose nature of modern performance cars.
The AMG double: Weston and Nicholl
The headline story belongs to Clint Weston. Driving the 2025 Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance, the AMG Driving Academy lead instructor dominated the Road Car and Supercar category. Weston secured his second consecutive "King of the Hill" title with a record-shattering 42.527 seconds, proving that AMG’s E Performance hybrid tech is the new benchmark for production cars up the Hill.
While Weston provided the power, Courtney Nicholl provided the grit. Behind the wheel of the Mercedes-AMG CLE 53, Nicholl fought a David vs. Goliath battle against far more powerful machinery to secure second in class and a massive seventh overall in the category.
The Bavarian charge
BMW Group South Africa didn't let the others have it all their own way. With a formidable lineup from the M division
Leyton Fourie took the Class A3 honours in the new BMW M2 (45.931s).
Cristiano Verolini finished as the overall runner-up to Weston in the shootout, clocking a 44.099s in the BMW M4.
International factory driver Jens Klingmann put the new hybrid BMW M5 on the podium.
Volkswagen’s 75th Anniversary Victory
Celebrating 75 years in South Africa, VW showed up in force. Rory Atkinson took the Class A1 win in the latest Golf GTI 8.5, while Graeme Nathan gave the Polo GTI SupaCup a glorious send-off by winning Class B2.
Stellantis
Stellantis made a massive statement this year by bringing Alfa Romeo back to the hill with a mix of Quadrifoglio heritage and new-age EV performance.
Janus Janse van Rensburg successfully defended his title, taking first place in Class B9 in the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio with a time of 49.876 seconds.
Art Denisov drove the Giulia Quadrifoglio to the limit in the competitive Class A3.
Trevor Tuck made history for the brand by piloting the all-electric Alfa Romeo Junior Elettrica Veloce in Class A8, signalling Stellantis' shift toward electrified performance.
The Ultimate Kings: Wolk and Zeelie
Beyond the showroom battles, the monsters of Simola were out in full force:
Single-Seater King: Robert Wolk claimed his second overall title in the Gould GR55 with a mind-bending 35.024 seconds.
Modified Saloon King: Pieter Zeelie cemented his legend status in his Toyota MR2 Super GT, taking his third title with a 37.216-second run.
Final thoughts
Whether it was the hybrid might of Clint Weston’s AMG, the Italian soul of Alfa Romeo, the precision of BMW and VW, or the ear-splitting fury of the hillclimb monsters, the 2026 Simola Hillclimb was a masterclass in performance. The hill doesn't care about your brand loyalty—it only cares about the clock. And this year, as always, the clock favoured the brave.
Looking to find your own Simola-ready ride? From AMG, to M, to GTI, browse thousands of performance listings on AutoTrader SA today.
