- The seventh-generation Mustang GT and Mustang Dark Horse will be making their first appearance at the event
- Lindenberg Racing and Shelby South Africa have six Shelby vehicles competing in the King of The Hill
- 1965 Ford GT40 will compete in Classic Car Friday, pays tribute to the historic win at Le Mans in 1966
The upcoming Simola Hillclimb, which has taken place annually in Knysna since 2009, is going to be well-represented by a variety of Fords, and Ford-powered cars, ready to tackle this iconic event.
This will be the seventh-generation Mustang’s first appearance at the event as both the Mustang GT and Mustang Dark Horse are raring to gallop up the 1.9km Simola Hill.
MasterDrive, partners to the Simola Hillclimb official safety car and VIP hospitality rides, will be using the latest Mustang GT, while current South African Rally-Raid Championship driver, Lance Woolridge, will swap his familiar Ford NWM Ranger’s cockpit for the Ford Mustang Dark Horse’s to perform exhilarating exhibition runs. With its advanced fourth-generation 5.0-litre Coyote V8 powertrain and unmistakeable exterior design cues, the Mustang promises to put on a show and thrill those who get a chance to experience what it’s like to sprint up the hill.
The iconic, performance-focused Shelby brand is gearing up for another action-packed Simola Hillclimb, where they will attempt to win their respective categories with an array of vehicles steeped in motorsport heritage.
Competing in their 12th Simola Hillclimb, with over 5 600 horsepower, Lindenberg Racing and Shelby South Africa are fielding the most cars in one team at the event. Their track record of success in previous years sets high expectations for their performance in 2025, with six Shelbys competing in the King of The Hill under the all-new Team Shelby Racing umbrella.
They will be running three Ford-powered cars in Classic Car Friday with James Temple in his 1965 Shelby Daytona Coupe which boasts a potent 5.8-litre Ford V8 engine producing 390kW. Paige Lindenberg will be hustling her Ford Fairlane V8 and Djurk Venter returns to the event with the 1972 Group 2 Capri Perana.
The excitement continues on the Saturday morning through to Sunday with the King of the Hill challenge, where a diverse lineup of six Shelby Mustangs will tackle the demanding Hillclimb course. Temple will be behind the wheel of the rare Shelby Wide Body Super Snake. Paige Lindenberg will pilot the Shelby Speedster alongside Joshua O’Callaghan, Vinesh Padayachy, Deon Smit and Paul Malatjie in a trio of Super Snakes. These modified Shelbys will be a crowd favourite as they launch off the line and then keep the raw power under control on the tight and challenging course.
Also competing in Classic Car Friday is a recreation of a 1965 Ford GT40 driven by Peter MacPherson. The GT40 has achieved numerous podium finishes at the famed Simola Hillclimb, including winning its class at last year’s event. The car pays tribute to the historic win by Ford and Shelby at Le Mans in 1966 and celebrates the incredible legacy of performance, endurance and resilience by these two legendary automotive brands. Powered by a naturally aspirated 4.9-litre V8 engine, this South African-built Ford GT40 tribute car will undoubtedly be a major highlight at the 2025 Classic Car Friday event.
In addition to this, bonafide race cars such as the two March single seaters driven by Charles Arton and Ian Schofield are powered by the legendary Ford Cosworth BDG engine, as is Franco Scribante’s Chevron. Single-seater Formula Ford cars, powered by the Ford Kent engine and driven by Robert Wolk and Simphiwe Mohlahlo, will also be pushed to their limit.
For enthusiasts not able to attend the Simola Hillclimb in person, the entire event is livestreamed and covers the three days of competition from 2-4 May 2025. The livestream is free, and can be accessed via the website: www.simolahillclimb.com.
