Did you ever watch the Simola Hillclimb and think to yourself: I’d like to give that a go. Well, now you can, sort of… with the 2021 Virtual Simola Hillclimb.

The Simola Hillclimb is one of the premier events on the SA motorsport calendar. For one weekend a year, petrolheads from around the country, and sometimes from abroad, gather in the picturesque seaside town for the hillclimb. However, the Covid-19 pandemic has played havoc with motorsport worldwide and the annual event did not take place in 2020 and it has been postponed for 2021. 

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Multiple stages

Knysna Speed Festival, organiser of the iconic Simola Hillclimb, has partnered with Monarch, a leading esports company, to launch the 2021 Virtual Simola Hillclimb. The track has been scanned in great detail and it will be made publicly available on Assetto Corsa on March 17.

The 2021 Virtual Simola Hillclimb starts with the opening round on Monday 22 March running through to Saturday 27 March. Round two is from Monday 29 March to 3 April. round three will run from 5-10 April, and round four – the final qualifying round, from 12-17 April. You can submit your entry by clicking here.

The scores from all four rounds will produce the Top 10 competitors qualifying for the finals on 8 and 9 May and the winner after those two days of competition will be crowned the Virtual King of the Hill that Sunday evening.

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In their own words

Ian Shrosbree, MD of Knysna Speed Festival said, “It was starting to feel like the complete loss of the Hillclimb experience. We realised that while the pandemic continues its impact on our lives we would have to create a meaningful substitute to run up till and through that original hillclimb weekend. The 2021 Virtual Simola Hillclimb, by ourselves and Monarch, ticks all these boxes.”

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“This virtual version also allows anyone who has dreamt of competing in the Hillclimb to now have a shot at racing against not only other players, but also the record times set in real life by real drivers, and do all of this virtually,” said Shrosbree.

CEO of Monarch Warren Barkhuizen commented: “We are thrilled to bring the iconic Simola Hillclimb to the esports arena and bring ‘sim racing’ to a wider audience. We look forward to showcasing the first-ever virtual rendition of the Virtual Simola Hillclimb and trust it will receive an incredible reception among established and aspiring sim racers coming in as a fresh and innovative esports event.”

Watch our exclusive video interview with the man who set the quickest time ever at the Simola Hillclimb: