Suzuki claims a podium at Simola, driven by AutoTrader

The Simola Hill Climb is one of South Africa's premier motorsport events, so when Suzuki offered me the chance to drive one of its cars up the iconic hill, I jumped at the opportunity. I later discovered that the car in question would be a 3-door Jimny, with zero modifications. I had mixed emotions because a Jimny is great at climbing hills, but usually the muddy, off-road kind, not one of the fastest tar hill climb events on earth. 

Related: New Suzuki Dzire confirmed for South Africa

Running a Jimny up the hill!

My initial doubts about the entire exercise were quickly laid to rest during the Friday evening parade, where the adoring crowd loved the little Jimny, and found it to be some grin-inducing relief from the crazy super cars and ear-splitting hill climb monsters. I had several people tell me that I was brave for attacking the hill in a notoriously top-heavy car that is made for overlanding, but trust me, the real heroes are those piloting the high horsepower machinery up the hill; that's true bravery and skill.

Saturday was practice day, and my first run in the Jimny was much better than I thought. Suzuki had thrown out times like 1min20 for the Jimny to get up the hill, about the same time as some of the classic cars that tackled the climb the day before. I was more optimistic and said that a 1min10 would be great, all things considered. I was pleased to have beaten that in my first run!

The rest of the day was an exercise in minimising steering inputs to prevent the overzealous traction control system from intervening. Unfortunately, this cannot be switched off at speeds over 35 km/h, since the only time one needs it disabled in a Jimny is during low-speed off-road driving scenarios. By the end of the day, I had managed to bring the time down to a 1min06.7, and at this point, I was flat out the entire time, besides a mild lift under the bridge, so that meant any gains would be marginal.

The crowd's roar and the scent of racing fuel still linger in my memory from the final day of the 2025 Simola Hillclimb, behind the wheel of my now trusty Jimny, a vehicle that provoked many giggles on a weekend like this. I was in Class B9 for SUVs, with only three entries, meaning that piloting the plucky little Jimny to a third-place finish felt like a genuine victory. Each run was a personal challenge, pushing myself and the Jimny to improve with every climb.  In the finals, I pushed the little car as hard as I could, running into its soft limiter up the hill a few times, eventually wringing a 1min 6.404sec from the car. I'd say the engine is well run-in now after the event!

The Jimny, with its modest 68.2kW per ton power-to-weight ratio, truly impressed those at the event. It came within 9 seconds of its competitors with significantly more power, like the second-place finisher's 134.5kW per ton machine. 

A sad day for SA motorsport

However, the thrill of the competition was undeniably overshadowed by a profound sadness that permeated the entire event. The passing of a fellow participant, a member of the Joubert family, cast a heavy shadow over the day. My heart goes out to their loved ones during this challenging time. Motorsport, while exhilarating, carries inherent risks, and moments like these serve as a stark reminder of the fragility of life. The decision to continue the event, made at the request of the Joubert family, was a testament to the spirit and resilience of the motorsport community, a way to honour the memory of someone who shared the passion. Rest in eternal peace, Pieter.

My teammates

For Ernest Page, despite his spirited driving in the 1.2-litre Suzuki Swift GLX in Class A1, making it to the Class Finals proved elusive. Yet, his enthusiasm remained undimmed. "A fantastic experience, I was smiling the entire time," he shared. His best time of 1min 4.8sec showcased his dedication and the surprising capabilities of the Swift GLX.

Jeanette Kok-Kritzinger, with the benefit of the turbo-charged 1.4-litre engine in her third-generation Suzuki Swift Sport, showcased her pace, building up to a time of 56.538 seconds, placing her just outside the Class Finals; her spirit remained high. "What an awesome, fantastic experience! For me, my performance is a personal victory," she exclaimed!

A word from Suzuki

Brendon Carpenter, Suzuki Auto South Africa's Brand Marketing Manager, summarised the day, acknowledging the sombre atmosphere while expressing pride in the team's performance. "First of all, on behalf of Team Suzuki, we'd like to express our deepest condolences to the Joubert family," he stated, reflecting the collective grief. He further noted the Jimny's unexpected success, being "just under 10 seconds off second place with a 1.5-litre four-cylinder," and celebrated the overall positive experience of the other drivers.