Simola drew its largest crowd to date to Knysna, and 960 000 livestream views across more than 120 countries.
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Huge audience growth for SHC
Simola drew its largest crowd to date to Knysna, and 960 000 livestream views across more than 120 countries.
The world ' s fastest hillclimb is reaching a broader and more valuable audience, and there ' s data to prove it. With its spectacular location, technically challenging closed-road circuit, and an amazing array of drivers and cars, the Simola Hillclimb( SHC) drew its largest crowds yet this year.
Now in its 16th edition, the event is regarded as one of the world ' s marquee hillclimbs and an unmissable feature on the South African motorsport calendar. For this year ' s SHC, weather conditions were ideal, with fine autumn days over the first weekend of May.
Audience analysis shows how valuable the event is as a marketing and brand-positioning opportunity. A record 20 926 total admissions across the three days of competition were matched by the event ' s strongest digital performance to date, with livestream viewership up 78 % year-onyear and an almost even split between South African and international audiences.
An estimated 5 000 fans lined the Fan Fest street parades adjacent to the Knysna Waterfront, held on Thursday for the Classic Car Friday field and on Friday for the King of the Hill field, with public roads closed for entertainment, demonstration runs and burnouts.
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" We are exceptionally proud of the continued growth the Simola Hillclimb has achieved, and the record attendance in 2026 confirms that our formula is working. Our team is dedicated to making this event better and more rewarding for our competitors, spectators and partners every year," says Ian Shrosbree, Managing Director of Knysna Speed Festival( Pty) Ltd, which owns and runs the Simola Hillclimb.
The Simola Hillclimb has built a substantial presence across its digital platforms, which have been key drivers of the event ' s growth. The event ' s Facebook page reached a peak of 208 000 viewers and more than 887 000 views, from a following of over 30 000. On Instagram, Simola Hillclimb passed 14 600 followers and 1.8 million views, while the event ' s YouTube channel has recorded over 400 000 views to date.
With such an excellent live motorsport experience and extensive digital reach, Efficiency Motorsports chose SHC for its team debut earlier this year.
WORDS IN ACTION 36 OCTOBER 2026