Colin-on-Cars - Dunlop partners with Backdraft Series

This year is Dunlop Tyres South Africa’s biggest track season to date, with yet another motor sport series added to its list of 2023 tyre sponsorships. Dunlop is now the official tyre partner of the Backdraft Production Series, an exhilarating race that forms part of the South African Endurance Series (SAES).

The Backdraft Production Series showcases hand-built niche automobiles, which are open vehicles with two seats and emphasise sporting appearance and character.

This year, contenders will be racing their Backdraft Cobras on Dunlop Direzza tyres, plus enjoying the full trackside tyre support of the ATS Motorsport Dunlop Service Crew. Operating from a fully equipped Dunlop Racing mobile workshop, the service is staffed by a skilled and knowledgeable team and is free to all drivers competing on Dunlop tyres.

Lubin Ozoux, CEO of Dunlop manufacturer and distributor Sumitomo Rubber South Africa, said the iconic tyre brand was proud to welcome the unique Backdraft series into its fold.

“If there’s any category that can showcase the durability, longevity and performance of a vehicle and its tyres, it would be endurance racing. This form of motor sport is the ultimate test of the durability of equipment, and endurance of participants, so the Backdraft Production Series is a worthy partner to showcase the performance attributes of our Dunlop tyres. We love providing drivers with the very best in tyre technology, and we believe that our partnership with the Backdraft Production Series will be a fantastic opportunity to showcase our products and expertise,” he said.

During endurance racing, teams of two or more drivers take turns driving the car throughout the race, competing to cover the greatest distance over a set period of time, typically 3, 4, or 9 hours. The goal is to test the durability of both the car and the driver, as they must maintain high speeds for an extended period of time, maintain focus and work together to ensure that the car remains in top condition. The races are gruelling, with teams facing challenges such as changing weather conditions, mechanical issues, and intense competition from other teams.

The Backdraft Production Series is a single-make or one-make racing series, where all drivers race using identical cars from the same manufacturer, placing a larger emphasis on driver skill and car setup instead of engineering skill and budget. The Backdraft vehicles are powered by a Lexus V8 motor, with no electronic aids such as traction control or ABS.

“This year we’re extremely proud to have collaborated with TR-Tec which boasts a 5,000sq/m production facility in Prospecton, south of Durban, where these amazing roadsters are produced. They feature a wide variety of engines and transmission combinations, plus custom designed interiors. Backdraft also offers a rent-to-race programme, which opens motor sport up to more racing enthusiasts, and this is something we’re delighted to get behind as the Dunlop brand,” said Ozoux.

This latest motor sport series joins the growing list of Dunlop sole supplied race series in 2023. Dunlop is the official tyre partner of four out of seven race categories at South Africa's premier motor sport series, the National Extreme Festival, plus four at the Regional Extreme Festival.

Brian Martin of Backdraft Racing had this to say about their first experience racing on Dunlop tyres: “Since we raced on Dunlop Tyres at the last round of the SAES Championship at Killarney International Raceway we have been impressed by the durability and the performance of the Dunlop Direzza 03G. After 9 Hours of racing those tyres we could probably have done another 9 hours! The Backdraft Production Series is looking forward to a long and prosperous relationship with Dunlop Tyres and Sumitomo Rubber South Africa.”

Ozoux wished all Backdraft Production Series competitors the very best on the track this year. Dunlop Tyres South Africa's sponsorship underscores the brand's commitment to excellence in motor sport, and its dedication to providing drivers with the tools they need to succeed on the track. Dunlop looks forward to working with the Backdraft Production Series and the South African Endurance Series to create a memorable and exciting season of motor sport for all involved.

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Colin-on-Cars - Simola Hillclimb gains new backing

Since inception, the size, status and relevance of the annual Simola Hilclimb has grown exponentially along with the speed, ferocity and technical innovation of the vehicles that clamour for inclusion – with all available slots taken up well before the event itself.

This motoring and motor sport lifestyle event has been given a further boost for this year’s 13th edition, as a record number of vehicle manufacturers are set to join the action. The 2023 Simola Hillclimb, which takes place from 4 to 7 May, will see six manufacturers supporting the event with official entries, with four of the brands also signing up as event partners.

“For the past three years we have been working exceptionally hard to expand the manufacturer support and participation in the Simola Hillclimb to broaden its appeal for spectators and competitors, and give the vehicle brands an unrivalled platform to highlight their latest products,  performance and heritage,” says Ian Shrosbree, managing director of the Knysna Speed Festival which runs the Simola Hillclimb.

“Moving away from having a manufacturer as a title sponsor from the 2021 event onwards allowed us to engage with other brands, and we have been encouraged by a steady growth in involvement each year,” Shrosbree says. “We are delighted to have six manufacturers lined up for this year, which elevates the profile and status of the Simola Hillclimb to even greater heights.”

Suzuki

Suzuki Auto South Africa is a Tier 1 partner for 2023, marking its third consecutive year of sponsoring the event.

“The Simola Hillclimb provides a platform to showcase Suzuki’s fun, exciting and passionate personality that stretches beyond our repertoire of providing affordable, fun and sporty compact cars and motorcycles,” says Brendon Carpenter, Brand Marketing Manager at Suzuki Auto SA.

“Globally, the Suzuki brand has a very strong heritage and enviable reputation of building crazy, and often record-breaking, high-powered hillclimb monsters such as Monster Tajima’s Suzuki Escudo Pikes Peak and the Suzuki SX4 Pikes Peak Special,” Carpenter says. “The Simola Hillclimb gives us an opportunity to dabble in the South African motor sport scene, and has become a highlight on our annual event calendar.”

Along with its Tier 1 sponsorship, for the second year in a row Suzuki will feature two standard Swift Sport entries competing in the standard production class. The company will also display the latest addition to its SUV line-up, and fans can look forward to demonstration runs with its newest motorcycle offerings.

BMW

Following its participation as an entrant last year, BMW South Africa has stepped up its involvement to become a Tier 1 partner for the 2023 Simola Hillclimb.

“We had a very enthusiastic response from the BMW team last year, and we are delighted to welcome the company on board as a Tier 1 partner for 2023,” Shrosbree says.

While the vehicle and driver line-up is still being finalised, fans can be assured there will be lots to look forward to.

“BMW’s presence at this year’s Simola Hillclimb will be a celebration of our heritage in South Africa on Classic Car Friday, as well as a look towards our future and our expanding electromobility portfolio in the King of the Hill Shootout,” says Thilosh Moodally, General Manager: Group Communications and External Affairs, BMW Group South Africa.

Volkswagen

Volkswagen has progressively stepped up its participation in the Simola Hillclimb over the past couple of years, and has signed up as a Tier 2 partner for 2023.

“This event is the most fun one can have in Knysna! It is a showcase of both driver capability and the incredible engineering in our Volkswagen products,” says Mike Rowe, Volkswagen Driving Experience Manager. “We use it as an opportunity to entertain important guests as well as to demonstrate new Volkswagen products and motorsport drivers to the elite motoring fanatics.”

The Volkswagen line-up will include the powerful Polo SupaCup race car that featured in the 2022 event, along with two Golf R entries in the production vehicle class.

“There will be a fourth very exciting car, but we can’t reveal the details yet,” Rowe says.

Honda

Joining the fray for the first time as a Tier 2 partner is Honda Motor Southern Africa.

“This is the first time that Honda will be participating in the Simola Hillclimb, and we are delighted to be a Tier 2 partner for this prestigious event,” says Letitia Herold, Marketing and PR Manager, Honda Motor Southern Africa.

“For King of the Hill, we are entering a highly anticipated new performance car that will be launched just before the Simola Hillclimb. It will be driven by one of South Africa’s best-known racing drivers, so we expect that there will be lots of interest from the enthusiastic spectators. Fans can look forward to demo runs up Simola Hill as well, and we will be involved in the Fan Fest activities too, so there will be lots to look forward to.”

Hyundai

Hyundai South Africa returns as the media shuttle partner for the second consecutive year, supplying the Staria buses to transport the press contingent to designated photographic locations along the Simola Hill course.

More noteworthy for hot hatch fans, though, is the official entry of the Hyundai i30N, which will be driven by Joshua Lowe, Hyundai’s Regional Sales and N-sport Manager.

“Hyundai N products such as the i30N and Kona N closely align themselves to motorsport and were developed to be track stars for the road,” Lowe says.

“We have entered our i30N which we raced in the Johannesburg-based Vilaca Racing time attack series in 2022, where it finished second in the FWD modified class in stock form,” Lowe says. “For this year the vehicle has a few basic modifications for the track, but is essentially what you can expect from the factory vehicle. We look forward to showing the South African public what the i30N is capable of.”

Ford

Fresh from its South African launch, the new V6-powered Ford Ranger Raptor will provide an unusual twist on the performance vehicle theme with the backing of Ford South Africa, and will compete in the unlimited class for sports utility/activity vehicles and bakkies.

“We are excited about participating in the 2023 Simola Hillclimb for the first time with a media partner,” says Minesh Bhagaloo, General Manager, Communications at Ford South Africa. “The Simola Hillclimb is a fantastic event, and fans will get to see the exhilarating Next-Generation Ranger Raptor in action. It is powered by a 292 kW 3,0-litre V6 EcoBoost engine which makes it our most powerful Ranger yet. We are confident that the Next-Gen Ranger Raptor will be a great attraction at this year’s event, and on our media partner’s social platforms.”

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 Epic battle for honours at Simola (Part 2)

The Modified Saloon Car category of this year’s Simola Hillclimb features some exceptional high-performance and race-bred machines across its various classes – and for B7, which caters for naturally aspirated cars with eight cylinders or more, it’s pure supercar territory. 

The line-up comprises several top contenders from Extreme Supercar and endurance racing, including the Lamborghinis of Ricky Giannoccaro (2014 Gallardo Super Trofeo) and the 2019 Huracan GT3 Evos of Charl Arangies and Silvio Scribante. Mixing it up in the class will be Franco di Matteo in his thundering 6,0-litre V8-powered Jaguar from the V8 Supercars championship, and Stiaan Kriel in a Lexus V8-powered Backdraft Cobra raced in the SA Endurance Series.

In class B3 for four-cylinder four-wheel drive cars, Simola Hillclimb regular Anton Cronje is sure to be a Top 10 Shootout contender once again in his powerful 2013 Subaru Impreza WRX STi. He will be competing for class honours against Pierre Bester (2014 Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG), Juan van Rensburg (2001 Audi TT) and Robby Ferroli in a turbo-charged 1980 VW Golf. 

There is also the pair of 2007 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9s of Capetonians Nic Schwerdtfeger and Shane Naidu. Having competed in every Simola event to date, Naidu is a regular hillclimb campaigner in his quick Evo 9 FQ360.

 “The Simola Hillclimb has become part of our family lives as we have been attending the event since it started in 2009,” Naidu says. 

“The organisers are passionate about the event and inviting not only  the professional  drivers but gentlemen drivers like myself who can come along in their road cars and sports cars and race at South Africa's premier event. The camaraderie amongst competitors is incredible, and the welcome we get from all the other drivers and the teams is rarely found in motorsport these days. It’s like meeting old family once a year.”

Simola regular Clare Vale will be back in action in class B2 for four-cylinder two-wheel drive cars, leading the charge in her distinctive 2013 Subaru BR-Z, along with Owen Bridger (2007 Honda Civic Type R), circuit racing ace Lee Thompson in a 2016 VW Golf GTI GTC2-category race car, and Bob Neill in a 2017 Ford Focus ST.

And now, for something completely different …

Pickups, or bakkies as they are known in South Africa, aren’t typically something you would associate with a motorsport event on a road course, however, they are ingrained in South African culture so it’s no surprise that they will feature at the Simola Hillclimb. 

The Lindenberg family’s brawny Road to Race (RTR) supercharged V8 Savage 660 Ford Ranger will be lighting up its tyres on the Simola Hill once again – but this time Peter Lindenberg and daughter Paige are trading seats, with dad competing in the ultra-rare Shelby Mustang in the Road Car and Supercar category, and Paige aiming to tame the Savage. 

“King of the Hill is the greatest event of the year for me,” she says. “For the past few years I have had the pleasure of racing a Shelby Mustang up the hill, but this year we decided to put a twist in the plans and my dad will be showing us what a Shelby Terlingua can do, whilst I pilot the V8 Savage 660 RTR Ranger up the hill. It will be a huge change and challenge, but one I am looking forward to.”

They won’t have the only bakkie in the line-up, as Francois Fritz will be fulfilling his long-time ambition of competing at the Simola Hillclimb. His weapon is in the form of a 2011 Toyota Hilux that had its normal 3.0-litre diesel engine replaced with Toyota’s Japanese-market 5,0-litre V12 engine, with twin turbos bolted on for good measure. 

At the opposite end of the spectrum, Ryno Scheepers will be back in his vintage 1976 Mazda F1000 – but this won’t be a shrinking violet as the tiny vehicle is powered by a high-revving turbocharged 13B rotary engine with an impressive power-to-weight ratio. Also expect Udo de Beurges to be in contention for class honours with his 2019 Audi RSQ3 performance SUV. 

The 2021 Simola Hillclimb takes place from 3 to 5 September 2021, starting with Classic Car Friday, followed by King of the Hill on the Saturday and Sunday. Due to COVID-19 regulations, no spectators are allowed, but the entire event will be livestreamed.