Knysna Speed Festival, organiser of the iconic Simola Hillclimb, has partnered with Monarch, a leading esports eventing company, to launch the 2021 Virtual Simola Hillclimb starting with a full-blown series of four qualifiers and culminating in final virtual shoot-outs on 8 and 9 May – the originally scheduled dates of the real 2021 Simola Hillclimb which has been postponed.

Ian Shrosbree, MD of Knysna Speed Festival, said it had become very clear in the weeks and months of discussions which led finally to the 2021 postponement that levels of disappointment amongst competitors and fans alike were extreme. Around the time of the first postponement of the Hillclimb (at the height of the pandemic in 2020), the Hillclimb organisers met with Monarch and together began the process of building a substantial databank of material.

The Virtual Simola Hillclimb opening round started on Monday 22 March and will run through to Saturday 27 March. Round two is from Monday 29 March to 3 April. Round three will run from 5-10 April, and Round Four – the final qualifying round – from 12-17 April.

The scores from all four rounds will produce the Top 10 competitors qualifying for the finals on 8 and 9 May, and the winner after those two days of competition will be crowned the Virtual King of the Hill that Sunday evening.

Monarch is an esports tournament organiser and eventing company which is proud to have developed a virtual rendition of this iconic track, which represents the real Simola hill in great detail. The track will be made publicly available on Assetto Corsa on the 17th of March for everyone to enjoy from the safety and comfort of their own homes.