SUZUKI SA IS BACK AT SIMOLA HILL CLIMB FEATURING A SWIFT GLX, SWIFT SPORT, JIMNY AND THE SUZUKI GSX-8R. NOICE!
You’ve got your R35 GT-Rs, your purpose-built monsters with aero that could generate lift at OR Tambo, and then there’s Suzuki Auto South Africa. Instead of chasing lap times and bragging rights, they’re bringing the vibes - and once again proving that going fast is only half the fun. Back as a Tier One OEM sponsor for the 2025 Simola Hillclimb, Suzuki SA returns to Knysna with a fresh fleet, their own section of the course (Zones 4 and 8, aka the Suzuki Esses), and a full-blown team effort aimed at showing just how much fun you can have without needing a six-figure bank balance and a race engineer on speed dial. For their fourth consecutive year on the hill, Suzuki is mixing things up. Instead of just rocking up with a trio of Swift Sports, they’ve handed the keys to three different models, each piloted by a well-known face from the motoring media scene.
Ernest Page - motoring journo, TV presenter, and professional enthusiast - will be flinging the all-new Swift GLX up the hill. It’s packing Suzuki’s new Z12E 1.2-litre triple that may only push out 60 kW and 112 Nm, but when bolted into the ultra-light HEARTECT platform, it becomes a whole lot punchier than the numbers suggest. With reworked suspension and proper chassis stiffness, Page will be able to carry more corner speed than you’d expect. And if you’ve ever seen him drive in anger, you’ll know he’s not there to coast. Page isn’t new to club racing either, so don’t be surprised if he punches well above his weight (and budget).
“I’m amped to be back at the Simola Hillclimb as a competitor,” says Page. “The last time I raced here with a manufacturer was with Jaguar in 2016. I’ve tested the new Swift and really like it - now I’m curious to see what it can do under pressure.”
Next up, Jeanette Kok-Kritzinger, the SA Women’s Land Speed Record holder and ex-Group N racer, will be throwing down in the familiar Swift Sport. The third-gen pocket rocket is back with its 1.4-litre turbocharged BoosterJet engine, throwing out 103 kW and 230 Nm in a package weighing just 970kg. That’s a recipe for fun, and Kok-Kritzinger knows how to exploit it. She’s gunning for the fastest-ever Swift Sport time of 53.551s. Place your bets.
“I’ve wanted to take part in the Simola Hillclimb since 2010,” she says. “It’s a different format to what I’m used to, but the Swift Sport is a great tool for the job - excellent power-to-weight, responsive steering, and just the right amount of spice. I’m counting down the days.”
Rounding out the Suzuki trio is Sean Nurse, media racer and 2024 Toyota GR Cup Media Challenge champ, in a car no one saw coming - a Suzuki Jimny GLX 3-door. That’s right, the beloved boxy 4x4 is ditching the dirt for the tar and joining the big dogs in Class B9, which caters to bakkies and SUVs. With a 1.5-litre four-pot pushing out 75 kW and 130 Nm, the Jimny’s not going to be snapping necks with straight-line pace - but if the weather turns? That AllGrip Pro four-wheel-drive might just become the secret sauce. Let’s be honest: seeing a Jimny bouncing its way up the hill is worth the entry fee alone.
“I think it’s awesome that Suzuki’s bringing the Jimny to the hill this year,” says Nurse. “Sure, it’s not the fastest thing on paper, but if the rain comes — and it usually does — we could surprise a few people. Either way, it’s going to be a vibe.”As if that wasn’t enough, Suzuki’s also adding a two-wheeled spectacle into the mix. Joining the media crew are Nicole Purificati, FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship rider, and Tristin Pienaar, South Africa’s Junior SBK sensation. These two will be lighting up the hill with demo runs on the razor-sharp GSX-8R sportbikes, which should give spectators a fresh appreciation for just how insane - and versatile - Suzuki’s engineering really is.
“With a strong driver line-up and a diverse selection of cars — something for all tastes and budgets — this might be our most interesting Simola media campaign yet,” says Brendon San, Brand Marketing Manager of Suzuki Auto South Africa. “Top it off with electrifying two-wheel action from Nicole and Tristin, and we’re ready to deliver yet another unforgettable Simola experience.”
So, what’s the lesson here? You don’t need 400 kW and a carbon monocoque to have a good time. You just need the right mindset, the right crew, and a few brilliantly fun Suzukis. One day, I might even get invited to drive one. Until then, you’ll find us trackside at the Suzuki Esses, grinning from ear to ear, 100mm - 400mm lens at the ready.
Take a look at the YouTube video from Suzuki SA's preparations for Simola 2024. Such a rad bunch of people with a great sense of humour. Next year it's our turn!: Road To Simola Hill Climb 2024 x Suzuki Swift Sport | Suzuki Auto South Africa
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