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2020 Simola Hillclimb organisers open up field to more carmakers

Off the back of a record-breaking 2019 Jaguar Simola Hillclimb, the owners Knysna Speed Festival and Jaguar South Africa have announced the transformed business model in 2020, which will be inclusive of other motor vehicle brands in South Africa. 

While the Simola Hillclimb will welcome all brands to the event from 2020, it has structured a top tier manufacturer partnership package that will be focused on five brands that will enjoy access to live stream branding, track branding, hospitality, track time, VIP runs, exhibition space and race entries.

This change in strategy sees the Knysna Speed Festival, as owners and organisers of South Africa’s premier motorsport lifestyle event, are bringing on board a neutral non-vehicle brand to take up the title sponsorship, clearing the way for multiple vehicle brands’ participation.

The event will run from 7-10 May 2020. 

simola hill climb

                                               Image: Rob Till 

Ian Shrosbree, managing director of Knysna Speed Festival says: "We have enjoyed an incredible six-year journey with Jaguar as our title sponsor and we can’t thank the team at Jaguar enough for their support, enthusiasm and partnership over the years."

"Jaguar has assisted us in lifting the standard across all levels of the event, and played a key role in helping us build it into the globally recognised Hillclimb that it is today. We will forever be grateful for this incredible support.

“Jaguar’s commitment was never more in evidence than when we went to them with our new vision, which will grow the event into the future to become one of the premier Hillclimbs on the global calendar, and they immediately gave us their full support.

Shrosbree says: "Pursuing this goal will demand a lot more resources and, to allow for this and make the event sustainable over the long term, the business model had to be adapted to be more inclusive of the other motor manufacturing brands.


simola hill climb

                                               Image: Rob Till

“We are in discussions with a number of potential title sponsors and have already engaged with a many of the other vehicle brands, and their support for our strategy has been supportive and encouraging,” says Shrosbree.

"Several indicated that they had hoped this would materialise at some point as it allows them certain freedoms that have naturally not been possible with Jaguar as the exclusive motor brand title sponsor. We already have a number of commitments and anticipate that the top tier will be over-subscribed very soon.'

simola hill climb

                                              Image: Rob Till

The 10th edition of the Jaguar Simola Hillclimb in 2019 saw just over 17 200 people from around the globe come through the gate. Drivers from the USA, UK and Germany participated and added to the international reach of the Hillclimb, while spectators from Australia, the DRC, Germany, Hong Kong, Namibia, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the UK, and USA (in addition to SA) purchased tickets via the online system.

simola hill climb

                                              Image: Rob Till

For more information on the event visit: simolahillclimb

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