For many drivers, competing at the Simola Hillclimb is a dream. For Nivan Maistry of Maistry Motorsport, that dream became a reality in spectacular fashion at the 2026 edition of the iconic motorsport event — finishing with a podium position on his very first attempt.
Piloting a stunning Ferrari 488 GTB up the legendary Knysna hill, Maistry not only faced one of the most technically demanding courses in world motorsport but also found himself racing alongside some of the biggest names and fastest machinery in the country.
Yet despite being a Simola rookie, he left with what he describes as “the most amazing accomplishment” of his racing career.
A Childhood Passion Fueled by Family
Maistry’s journey into motorsport began at a young age, inspired by his father’s own racing background.
“Since I was a child, my father raced as well — he was my inspiration,” he says.
That passion ultimately led him to one of Africa’s premier motorsport stages, where thousands of spectators lined the course and millions followed the action online.
For Maistry, simply being there already meant something significant.
“It was a tick off my goal list, an accomplishment and a real honour,” he explains.
The Simola Atmosphere
The Simola Hillclimb has evolved into more than just a race weekend — it is now a celebration of speed, engineering, lifestyle, and motorsport culture.
Maistry was immediately struck by the atmosphere surrounding the event.
“The atmosphere from the spectators was amazing, and my fellow drivers were so helpful, full of advice and very encouraging.”
For a first-time competitor, the welcoming nature of the paddock helped make the experience unforgettable.
He also praised the quality of the course itself, saying the track surface and layout exceeded expectations.
“The track was amazing and surfaced well.”
Conquering the Hill
The Simola Hillclimb is notorious for rewarding precision while punishing mistakes. Drivers have only a few opportunities to perfect their runs, meaning every second counts.
Maistry embraced the challenge with determination.
“As I drove along the track, I managed to improve my time each time I ran.”
According to him, the most technically demanding portions of the course were the famous S-bends and the bridge section — areas requiring absolute focus and precision.
“It took a lot of concentration and focus to study the track and try and figure out how to better my times after each run,” he says.
“It is also physically straining sitting with a race suit and helmet for long periods of time, but luckily the event was so well organized that everything flowed nicely and it was manageable.”
A Podium Finish Despite Adversity
Although Maistry was pleased with his overall performance, he believes there was still more pace left in both himself and the Ferrari.
“I am very pleased for a first timer, but I know I could have gone faster.”
His biggest challenge throughout the weekend was simply trying to consistently improve on his previous times.
But motorsport can be unpredictable.
During his final run, Maistry encountered a frustrating setback when his Ferrari entered limp mode halfway through the climb.
“On my final run, my car went into limp mode and I drove with half the power, so I could have done better — but it is what it is.”
Despite the issue, Maistry still secured an impressive third-place finish in class — an outstanding result for a debut appearance.
Learning from the Best
Competing among elite drivers and high-performance machines proved to be one of the highlights of the weekend.
“Racing amongst all these top drivers and champions with those amazing cars was a really unforgettable experience.”
When asked which car stood out most, Maistry didn’t hesitate.
“Peter Zeelie’s MR2 for sure.”
The weekend also provided valuable technical lessons for both driver and team.
“I learned that the type of tyres play a major role.”
Behind the Scenes: Teamwork Matters
Maistry emphasized that motorsport success is impossible without a dedicated team behind the scenes.
“Absolutely essential,” he says when describing the importance of his crew.
Preparation for Simola involved countless hours of research and getting the Ferrari race-ready for the demanding hillclimb environment.
“Basically getting the car race ready — lots of research and time.”
The experience also taught the team the importance of monitoring track evolution more closely, something they plan to improve in future events.
Motorsport Culture and Inspiring the Next Generation
Beyond the competition itself, Maistry believes Simola plays a major role in growing motorsport culture across Southern Africa.
“It has definitely had a positive impact on the racing community and also exposed all the ‘non-car’ people to the beauty of the culture.”
He says fans are central to what makes the event special.
“They are the life of the event and it would not be the same without them.”
Throughout the weekend, Maistry enjoyed engaging with supporters through photographs, autographs, and conversations in the paddock.
“Lots of caps and T-shirts signing and lots of photos.”
Importantly, he believes events like Simola can inspire the next generation of racers.
“We all had dreams and aspirations when we were younger — but if you work hard and persevere, you can accomplish anything you put your mind to.”
Looking Ahead
The successful Simola debut has only fueled Maistry’s ambition further.
Next on the calendar for Maistry Motorsport is the Cape Town Hillclimb, followed by a planned return to Simola in 2027.
As for upgrades to the Ferrari?
“A few thoughts and ideas,” he says jokingly. “Sshhh!”
One thing is certain — he will be back.
“Absolutely!”
And for aspiring drivers dreaming of tackling the famous hill one day, Maistry has simple but powerful advice:
“Take that chance, don’t give up and keep trying.”
After a remarkable debut podium at one of Africa’s toughest motorsport events, Nivan Maistry’s first Simola Hillclimb appearance will undoubtedly be remembered as a breakthrough moment — not only for himself, but for Maistry Motorsport as well.
“It was the most amazing accomplishment of my career — a podium on my first try and definitely my highlight.”
