- Arton secures second Classic Conqueror victory in 1979 March 79a – a decade after 2015 win and consecutive podiums in the past two years
- 2023 winner Andre Bezuidenhout had to settle for runner-up spot and the class H9 win, with chilly weather and intermittent rain dramatically increasing the challenge for all of the competitors
- Seven-time Classic Car Friday winner Franco Scribante claimed class H10 title but didn’t make it to the Top 10 Shootout after going off the track during final practice in the wet conditions, and never secured a clean qualifying run in drier conditions
- Alfa Romeo aficionado Trevor Tuck receives Spirit of Dave Charlton Award
The Simola Hillclimb added another repeat Classic Car Friday winner to its history books today when Charles Arton claimed his second Classic Conqueror title – a full decade after his previous win in 2015.
Having secured third place in 2023 and second last year, Arton stepped onto the top step of the podium at this year’s landmark 15th edition of the Simola Hillclimb, which is renowned as South Africa’s premier motoring and motorsport lifestyle event, and the world’s fastest hillclimb.
Driving his 1979 March 79a Formula Atlantic single-seater, Arton conquered extremely difficult and unpredictable conditions characterised by very low temperatures and intermittent rain throughout the day to set the fastest time of 44.436 seconds in the all-or-nothing Top 10 Shootout.
With this spirited drive he edged out 2023 winner Andre Bezuidenhout in the 1976 Lola T460 by 0.598 seconds. It was an extremely close battle between the pair, as Bezuidenhout gained the upper hand in the Class Finals in wet conditions with a time of 47.051 seconds – a mere 0.065 seconds ahead of his class H9 rival. Ian Schofield ended third in the class as well as in the overall Classic Conqueror battle behind the wheel of his 1977 March 77b.
“This is such a special win 10 years later, especially after all we’ve been through after the car was severely damaged in a fire straight after the 2017 event, and it took us nearly six years to rebuild. Last year we bought a Cosworth BDG engine for the car and it didn’t work, so we completely rebuilt it twice to get it to run properly, and then last month we had a crown wheel come through the side of the gearbox, so it takes a lot to compete here,” Arton said. “To win it again 10 years later is fantastic.
“The conditions today were a nightmare as it changed every session, and even during every run. There was intense debate in the pits before the Class Finals whether to run wet or slick tyres, and we just didn’t know which way to go. We opted for wet tyres for that run, then I decided on slicks for the Top 10 Shootout which was still risky as there was water on the track coming out of Turn 3 where I had a bit of a moment, but it worked out in the end and was great fun,” Arton said.
“This is my 14th Simola Hillclimb. I did the very first one in 2009 which Sarel van der Merwe won in the V8 Masters car, and I shared a similar car with Ian Scheckter that year,” he added. “This event still has that same hillclimb atmosphere and community sense that it’s always had which is brilliant, but it has developed into a proper world-class event that competitors and spectators from South Africa and around the world want to come to. Congrats again to Ian Shrosbree, Geoff Goddard and the rest of the team that continue to put an amazing event together each year.”
Robert Wolk finished fourth in the Top 10 Shootout in the 1979 Van Diemen RF Formula Ford with a time of 49.201 seconds. Maintaining his dominance of the tin-top entries and leading a trio of Porsches was Rui Campos who ended fifth overall in the 1974 911 RSR (49.252 seconds), ahead of Gavin Rooke (1973 911) on 52.355 seconds and Craig Wessels (1983 911 RSR IROC) just two-hundredths of a second adrift.
Former rally ace Enzo Kuun posted a time of 52.708 sec in his 1989 Ferrari 348 to claim eighth place, followed by Josh Dovey (1972 Chevron B20) on 52.837 seconds and Rick Morris who rounded out the top 10 in the 1982 Royale RP31 with a time of 53.470 seconds.
The class winners were:
H1 (handicap formula class): Gero Lilleike (1946 Austin A40 Special)
H2: Hedley Whitehead (1964 Austin Cooper S)
H3: Jandre Bezuidenhout (1985 Porsche 944 Turbo Cup)
H4: Ivan Lerm (1987 AC Cobra)
H5: Trevor Tuck (1969 Alfa Romeo 1750 GTV)
H6: Gavin Rooke (1973 Porsche 911)
H7: Rob Obery (1980 Porsche 924 GTP)
H8: Rui Campos (1974 Porsche 911 RSR)
H9: Andre Bezuidenhout (1976 Lola T460)
H10: Franco Scribante (1971 Chevron B19)
Spirit of Dave Charlton Award
Each year the special ‘Spirit of Dave Charlton’ floating trophy is awarded to the person that reflects South African race legend Dave Charlton’s spirit of impeccable attention to detail, meticulous preparation and commendable performance.
For Classic Car Friday in 2025, the award went to Trevor Tuck. As an Alfa Romeo aficionado with more than 25 years’ experience building and racing these iconic Italian cars, Tuck has prepared and competed with a variety of immaculately turned out Alfas over the past seven editions of the Simola Hillclimb, regularly winning his class and set the benchmark for his rivals.
Full action livestream
Local and international enthusiasts who aren’t able to attend this year’s Simola Hillclimb can follow all the action via the livestream, which is free to access via the website (www.simolahillclimb.com). The broadcast covers all three days, ensuring that you don’t miss any of the excitement and intense competition, hosted by expert presenters including Rodrigo de Oliviera from Portugal, who runs Hillclimb Monsters.
The livestream includes several innovations this year, including in-car footage from some of the top competitors, as well as expanded pit lane coverage incorporating the amazing sights and sounds of this unique event.
