King of the Swifts Battle Heats up After Day 1 at 2026 Simola Hillclimb
KING OF THE SWIFTS BATTLE HEATS UP AFTER DAY 1 AT 2026 SIMOLA HILLCLIMB
Suzuki Auto South Africa’s quartet of Swift GL+ entries made their competitive debut on the Simola hill on Saturday, as the 2026 Simola Hillclimb shifted into high gear with Practice and Qualifying sessions for King of the Hill contenders.
With four identical, completely standard hatchbacks entered into the same class, the focus quickly turned to the drivers as they worked their way up the hill for the first time. The day began with a series of Practice runs, allowing each competitor to familiarise themselves with the unique demands of the course, before the intensity ramped up during the Qualifying sessions.
As expected, the progression throughout the day told a clear story of growing confidence and increasing pace. All four drivers steadily improved their times, refining braking points, lines and throttle application with each run.
Among the quartet, it was Samuel Da Fonseca (#63, The Car Scene) who set the early benchmark, consistently edging ahead of his teammates as the day progressed. His best time of 1:04.994, recorded during the second Qualifying session, proved to be the quickest of the group.
“When I rolled up to the hill for the first time, my nerves were shattered,”
said Da Fonseca.
“But run after run, I just kept improving. The last thing I expected was to get into the 1:04s. The Swift is very predictable and forgiving, and I’m having the time of my life out there.”
Avon Middleton (#61, Top Gear South Africa) remained firmly in contention throughout the day, closing the gap to Da Fonseca as the sessions unfolded.
“We did seven runs today, all flat out, and the car didn’t miss a beat,”
said Middleton.
“No issues at all – you just jump in and go. From the first run to the last, we all improved, and for me there’s still time left on the table. Tomorrow is about finding those last few tenths.”
Behind them, Ziphorah Masethe (#62, Ignition TV) delivered one of the standout improvements of the day, steadily working her way up the order as her confidence grew.
“It started off a bit rocky, but as I got more comfortable, I kept shaving off time,”
said Masethe.
“I dropped more than six seconds over the day, which I’m really happy with. Tomorrow I just want to keep that momentum and put a bit of pressure on the guys.”
Girlie Lukhele (#64, Driving with Girlie) also showed strong progression, building confidence with each run as she adapted to both the hill and the car.
“I started off a bit slow, but once I figured out the lines and how the car handles, I was able to make good progress,”
said Lukhele.
“The Swift has been amazing – agile, nimble and so much fun to drive. I’m definitely aiming to go quicker Tomorrow.”
Adding to Suzuki’s presence at the event, two Suzuki motorcycles took to the hill during the lunch break demo runs. While not competing or recording official times, both machines delivered an impressive display for spectators, with the Hayabusa — ridden by Suzuki Richards Bay dealer principal Jaco Viviers — proving a clear crowd favourite.
With all four drivers competing in identical machinery, the margins remain tight, and the focus heading into Sunday will be firmly on execution. In what has quickly become an unofficial sub-plot within the broader King of the Hill competition, the fight to emerge as the ‘King of the Swifts’ promises to be one of the most closely watched battles of the weekend.
The 2026 Simola Hillclimb concludes on Sunday with the final Qualifying runs, followed by the Class Finals and the all-important Top 10 Shootouts, where the overall King of the Hill will be crowned.
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