It’s not often that I find myself wide-eyed like a teenager at a car meet, but this past weekend, standing at the foot of the legendary Simola Hill, that’s exactly how I felt. As a first-time visitor to the Simola Hillclimb – and as a guest of Suzuki Auto South Africa – I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Thunderous engines? Yes. Precision driving? Of course. But a Jimny on the podium? That, I’ll admit, caught me off guard.
Now, before we get into the nitty gritty, let me say this: Simola is magic. Petrolhead paradise. Part motorsport, part theatre. Add the garden route’s lush beauty, the smell of burnt rubber, and the kind of camaraderie only racing can inspire, and you’ve got an event that worms its way into your heart before the first run is over.
Suzuki’s involvement this year was, as always, about more than just lap times. It’s their fifth year supporting the event, and the brand showed up in full force with three cars: a new Swift GLX, a Swift Sport, and yes, a 3-door Jimny – not exactly what you’d expect to see lining up for a hillclimb event, but that’s precisely what made it so fun.
The little off-roader-that-could was piloted by motoring journalist Sean Nurse, who brought a fair bit of flair and a whole lot of determination to the B9 SUV class. Sure, there were only three entries in the class, but no snide comments from the sidelines, please! The Jimny did its thing, getting steadily quicker with every run. From an opening time of around 1:09 to a final sprint of 1:06.404, it wasn’t just a formality. It was a mission.
And let’s not forget the Jimny’s rivals had some serious power on tap. One competitor had nearly double the power-to-weight ratio of the humble 1.5-litre Jimny – a staggering 134.5kW/ton compared to the Jimny’s 68.2kW/ton – which puts things firmly in perspective. So, when Sean stood on the podium (even if it was by default), it was with the well-earned satisfaction of someone who’d wrestled a mountain and won in his own right.
Speaking to us after the run, Sean was grinning from ear to ear. “It’s been an awesome weekend, and I had a lot of fun,” he said. “I think the Jimny surprised a lot of people with the times it’s managed up the hill. I was here to compete against myself and to have a little bit of fun… and to show people that the Jimny is more dynamic than most people probably expect. A podium is a podium. There are no remarks on a trophy. It just says you came third at Simola.”
From the sidelines, I could see the crowds respond to the Jimny with a mixture of surprise and glee. It was clearly a fan-favourite; cute, capable, and with just enough underdog charm to make everyone root for it. There’s something deeply satisfying about seeing an everyday 4×4 take on a famously unforgiving hill and not flinch.
Suzuki’s other entries were also hard at work. Ernest Page, the ever-enthusiastic host of All Things Motoring, may have struggled to keep up with the front-runners in Class A1, but he had no shortage of fun doing it. Behind the wheel of the new Suzuki Swift GLX, he praised its nimble handling and frugal consumption. “A fantastic experience, I was smiling the entire time,” he said. “Overall, I’m happy with the car’s performance, and we also averaged a consumption of only 5.7 litres/100km over the entire day.”
Meanwhile, Jeanette Kok-Kritzinger from Wiele2Wiele had a slightly more serious machine at her disposal: the turbocharged Swift Sport. With a 1.4-litre Boosterjet engine and paddles on the wheel, she made the most of the six-speed auto and posted an impressive 56.538 seconds in qualifying. She just missed the finals, but you’d never guess it by her reaction. “What a privilege to be here,” she said, glowing. “What a privilege to be part of this world-class event. Just brilliant!”
All in all, it was a great showing for Team Suzuki. Brand Marketing Manager Brendon Carpenter summed it up beautifully: “We are very, very proud of the team, of the participation, but then also of the success of the event.” He added: “We entered the Jimny to show that it’s more dynamic than most people expect and we did that. The drivers said they had a lot of fun, and I think for us that’s what it’s all about. That’s the win in our case.”
The weekend wasn’t without its sombre moments, with the tragic passing of Pieter Joubert casting a shadow over the event’s final day. Suzuki paid tribute to the Joubert family, with drivers choosing to continue at their own discretion, honouring the family’s wishes.
Simola 2025 may have been my first, but I suspect it won’t be my last. I came for the spectacle and stayed for the spirit. I cheered for Suzuki’s not because they were the fastest or flashiest, but because they represented everything that makes grassroots motorsport great – accessibility, charm, and the kind of resilience that turns third place into first in our hearts.
