SIMOLA HILLCLIMB REBRANDS FOR MILESTONE 15TH EDITION IN 2025 - LOOKING GOOD!
The Simola Hillclimb is gearing up to celebrate a major milestone as it prepares for its 15th edition from May 1 - 4, 2025, in the picturesque and usually sleepy town of Knysna. To mark this momentous occasion, the Simola top brass is unveiling a brand-new logo and identity - one designed to take this motorsport spectacle to new heights and set a bold tone for its future. “Reaching our 15th year is huge for us,” says event organizer Ian Shrosbree. “The Simola Hillclimb has grown beyond our wildest expectations, earning massive support both locally and internationally. Our livestream coverage has opened up a global audience, and each year we’ve worked to make the event even more exciting for fans and drivers alike. With this new logo, we’re ready to elevate the experience and make an even bigger mark on the motorsport scene.” The original Simola Hillclimb logo - a vintage car cornering with speed - paid homage to the 1931 South African Grand Prix, inspired by Shrosbree’s experience at the Goodwood Festival of Speed back in 1999. Although iconic, the previous logo had limitations for digital and merchandising uses. The newly redesigned logo, developed in collaboration with The Pro Shop Corporate’s Kern Petersen and designer Kayley Malherbe, embraces modern simplicity while preserving the essence of speed and competition central to the Hillclimb’s identity. “Our goal was to create something versatile, clear, and bold,” explains Malherbe. “The new design is flat and 2D, like many modern logos from F1 to Gucci, giving it flexibility for digital platforms, print, and merchandise. We kept the clean, bold lines symbolizing speed and retained the vintage car’s influence to honour our history, all while transitioning into a more streamlined, contemporary look.”
The Pro Shop Corporate has been instrumental in reshaping the branding for the Hillclimb. Following the success of a Volkswagen-branded merchandise stand at this year’s event, Shrosbree and operations manager Emma Ross decided to overhaul the event's brand presence and create a wider range of merchandise options. Petersen shares, “We wanted a logo that wasn’t just a standalone image but one that could form part of a dynamic design. The new logo will work as a repeating pattern or paired with elements like chequered flags and laurel wreaths. This makes for a stylish, adaptable look on everything from T-shirts to caps.” As the Simola Hillclimb enters this exciting new chapter, the refreshed identity is set to roll out in full force. Fans can expect the new merchandise and branding to be a key part of the build-up to the 2025 event, providing competitors and spectators alike with a fresh way to connect with the Hillclimb’s enduring spirit. “This logo is just the beginning,” Shrosbree concludes. “We’re thrilled to bring this new energy to the Simola Hillclimb, and we’re confident our fans will embrace the fresh look as they join us for what promises to be our biggest and best event yet.” We can’t wait to see this new logo on all the marketing material and branding leading up to the event, it’s going to look amazing on billboards and street pole adverts. It will look even better on the official merchandise, which is something we like to collect, and this new logo simply means our collection is going to grow.
Take a look at the YouTube video that shows off the top 10 fastest runs in the King of the Hill shootout at the 2024 Simola Hillclimb. Now imagine all of this with a new logo plastered everywhere. Cool. Also, HillClimb Monsters is our favourite YouTube channel dedicated to the sport: SIMOLA HillClimb 2024 || KING OF THE HILL - TOP 10 ShootOut | HillClimb Monster
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