**Breaking boundaries**
Guy Davies will make history as only the second physically disabled competitor at the Simola Hillclimb, following Terry Smith in 2021. A former rugby player who suffered a spinal cord injury, Davies now works as a disability and access consultant.
He will drive his Porsche 911 Carrera, which he has owned since 2018 and modified with hand controls. “Behind the wheel, I’m not disabled,” said Davies. “I have more control with my hands than I ever did with my feet. I’m here to set a competitive time.”
In Class A3 for two-wheel drive, forced-induction cars up to six cylinders, Davies will face Cristiano Verolini in BMW South Africa’s 353kW M2 Competition, Ebrahim Mayat in his 2023 M4 CSL, Paul Munro in a 2020 Toyota Supra and Piet Potgieter in a 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio.
With no entries in Class A2 for all-wheel drive, four-cylinder cars, Class A1 presents a tight contest among two-wheel drive machines. Suzuki Auto South Africa continues its Tier 1 OEM sponsorship, fielding media entries in its Swift hatchback. Ernest Page will drive the latest Swift 1.2 while Jeanette Kok-Kritzinger returns in the turbocharged Swift Sport from 2024.
Other competitors include Bradleigh Boshoff in a MINI John Cooper Works, Siyabonga Mankonkwana in an Opel Corsa GSI Irmscher, Francis Cusens in a Fiat 500 Abarth, Yash Rampersad in a Porsche 718 Cayman, Andre Steenkamp in an Alfa Romeo 4C and the MasterDrive Driver Search winner in a Ford Fiesta ST.