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Veterans gear-up for Simola Hillclimb

KNYSNA, Southern Cape - The Jaguar Simola Hillclimb returns in 2014 and will take place on the challenging hill up to the Simola Golf and Country Estate.

VIDEO: Jade Gutzeit in action at the 2012 Hill-climb

The event includes the popular Classic Car Friday (May 16), followed by Saturday’s (May 17) practice and qualifying runs for the eagerly anticipated King of the Hill feature event on Sunday (18 May).

As opposed to circuit racing, there are no laps and unlike special stage rallying there isn’t a navigator, however the driver is allowed practice runs up the hill.

CHALLENGING EVENT

Des Gutzeit, who lost the win by a little over one hundredth of a second in 2012, says it's the most challenging event he's competed in.

Willie de Beer, who will be competing in a Porsche GT2, added: “It’s a different experience, very exciting.”

Film producer Anton Rollino said: “Hill climbs are a singular discipline – you race against the clock, alone on the track and totally focused on a course which was never meant to be a race track.”

Sadly Geoff Mortimer, winner in 2010 won’t compete in 2014. He said: “I am sorry I won’t be there in 2014, the Mitsubishi Evo with which I won, and in which I last competed, has been sold, but I have plans for 2015."

'KING OF THE HILL'

The Nissan Skyline Jade Gutzeit used to win in 2012 was quick off the line, while the EVO Mortimer drove in 2010 was not equipped with launch control or sequential transmission and thus was slightly slower.

Mortimer said: “I estimate the Evo was capable of 0-100 in four seconds but  Jade Gutzeit’s Nissans are equipped with launch control and sequential transmission, I estimate their 100km/h time is under three seconds."

Tyres are critical as not only do pressures have to be spot on but the tyres also need to be at the correct temperature at the start of a run.

Mortimer said: "Not all the top teams had tyre warmers in the past, but I suspect that will change in 2014. Warmers with soft compound slick tyres are a must if you want to win."

Forty seconds or less – that’s all it will take to earn the ‘King of the Hill’ crown.
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