Alfa Romeo will return to the Simola Hillclimb as Stellantis South Africa enters three factory-backed Alfa Romeo models into the event taking place in Knysna from 30 April to 3 May 2026. Part of the Knysna Speed Festival, the Simola Hillclimb sees competitors tackle the revered Simola hill course in one of South Africa’s most recognised motorsport gatherings.
The entry places both combustion and electric Alfa Romeo performance models on the same course, bringing together Alfa Romeo’s racing heritage, modern performance and electric innovation. The vehicles in the spotlight are the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio and the all-electric Alfa Romeo Junior Elettrica Veloce.
“Motorsport sits at the heart of Alfa Romeo’s identity, and Simola gives us a platform to demonstrate that spirit where enthusiasts can experience it up close. When people see a Giulia or Stelvio Quadrifoglio take on the Simola course alongside sports cars and supercars, it reinforces what Alfa Romeo engineering is capable of in real-world performance conditions”, says Janus Janse van Rensburg, Head of Marketing and Sales for Alfa Romeo
Quadrifoglio performance meets the hill
“Stellantis is home to a diverse portfolio of brands, and each one connects with its audience in a different way. For Alfa Romeo, motorsport has always been a natural expression of the brand’s character. Entering both Quadrifoglio performance models and an electric model at Simola shows how that performance DNA carries through different technologies, while still delivering the excitement enthusiasts expect,” says Charl Timms, Chief Commercial Officer at Stellantis South Africa.
The Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio will compete in class A3, driven by Art Denisov, whose strong performance in his own Giulia Quadrifoglio at the 2025 Speed Classic Cape Town caught the attention of the Alfa Romeo South Africa team.
Alongside it, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio will enter class B9 with Janse van Rensburg behind the wheel as the defending class winner from 2025. This will be his fourth appearance at the event after setting a class record and taking first place in B9 last year. He says the Stelvio Quadrifoglio’s entry “underlines Alfa Romeo’s ability to combine everyday practicality with genuine motorsport capability”.
The third factory entry reflects Alfa Romeo’s foray with electrified performance. The Alfa Romeo Junior Elettrica Veloce, a finalist for the 2026 South African Car of the Year (COTY) competition, will compete in class A8 with Trevor Tuck behind the wheel. Tuck is a long-time ‘Alfisti’ who owns and races Alfa Romeos across several historic categories, and his move to racing the electric Junior highlights the brand’s transition to future technologies.
A passionate Alfa Romeo community
Beyond the three factory cars, Alfa Romeo’s presence at Simola has been confirmed to extend to privately-owned-and-entered models that regularly take part in the festival’s Classic Car Friday and King of the Hill programme.
“Events like the Simola Hillclimb allow Alfa Romeo South Africa to connect directly with the ‘Alfisti’ community,” Janse van Rensburg says. “When historic Alfa racecars line up alongside our latest Quadrifoglio models and the Junior Elettrica Veloce, it shows the continuity of Alfa Romeo’s performance spirit across generations.”
For Stellantis South Africa, the event also strengthens Alfa Romeo’s visibility in a market where enthusiast engagement plays an important role in rebuilding brand awareness.
“Motorsport events create a meeting point between brands, enthusiasts and the broader motoring public,” Timms says. “Simola gives Alfa Romeo the opportunity to demonstrate its performance credentials in a highly visible setting while celebrating the passion that’s always surrounded the brand.”
