Castrol’s commitment to the Simola Hillclimb is rooted in a shared passion for performance, innovation, and pushing engineering boundaries. The event brings together top-tier local and international drivers, an exceptional level of competition, and a dazzling array of classic, modern, and purpose‑built racing machinery. This allows Castrol, as the Official Engine Oils and Lubricants Partner, to demonstrate the strength of its premium lubricants under extreme pressure.
“The 2026 Simola Hillclimb proudly represents Castrol’s seventh year as a sponsor and partner. What makes the Simola Hillclimb special and keeps Castrol coming back is the courage of competitors to place their vehicles under pressure to showcase the best they can offer,” says Melanie van Straaten, Country Head, Castrol Southern Africa.
“Castrol values the Simola Hillclimb as a high‑impact engagement platform, giving our brand direct access to customers, industry partners, and motorsport fans who associate Castrol with excellence and high performance,” says Gamase Sodaba, Marketing Manager, Castrol Southern Africa.
This unique event also showcases Castrol’s proud motorsport heritage. With 126 years of engineering innovation and a long history of motorsport success, Castrol leverages its involvement in the Simola Hillclimb to reinforce its legacy and product leadership, while providing technical insights that highlight how motorsport informs product development. At the same time, Castrol uses this fantastic opportunity to host top customers and senior industry guests in a thrilling and exhilarating motorsport environment, providing an exclusive, premium brand experience.
Additionally, Castrol continues its role as the official sponsor of the Simola Hillclimb Media Centre, a vital hub that supports journalists, photographers, and broadcast teams covering the event across multiple channels. The Media Centre provides Castrol with a strong platform for brand visibility, and demonstrates its commitment to motorsport storytelling and media excellence, enabling high-quality content creation throughout the event.
“Castrol remains one of our longest-standing partners, and we greatly appreciate the company’s ongoing support and enthusiasm for the Simola Hillclimb,” says Ian Shrosbree, MD of the Knysna Speed Festival, which owns and runs the Simola Hillclimb. “We look forward to making the most of Castrol’s seventh year as a partner as we deliver an even better and more successful event this year.”
The 16th edition of the Simola Hillclimb takes place from 30 April to 3 May 2026.
For more information and ticket sales, visit the website: www.simolahillclimb.com
