The stage is set for a host of nail-biting battles against the clock this coming weekend (25-26 July) at Zwartkops Raceway for the third edition of The Top of the Hill Challenge, with a host of changes to the event format adding some spice to what lies ahead.
Ian Schofield
As before, the event will consist of a two-kilometre course in the opposite direction to the normal route around the famous Pretoria circuit. However, that will be as far as the familiarities go. After the previous two successful editions were held in the latter spring months, this year’s event is in the middle of winter, bringing new dynamics for drivers and teams alike to contend with. The other major change relates to the event format. Previously, all four crowns were contested simultaneously over a two-day programme. While the 2026 edition will still take place over two days, it is now in line with other time attack events in South Africa, with separate days for classic and modern cars. Saturday’s focus will see the Classic Conqueror title being decided, with the Road Cars & Supercars, Single Seaters & Sportscars, and Modified Production Cars entrants commencing their battles on Sunday.
The format change has opened the event to more drivers, particularly those competing in both classic and modern cars.
This is the second attack event of 2026, with the Simola Hillclimb in Knysna taking place back in May, the only similar event since the previous Top of the Hill Challenge. All four, defending Top of the Hill champions, will be in contention again.
Willie de Beer
The driver to beat on Saturday will be Ian Schofield, who will be looking to pilot his Investchem March 77B to a third consecutive Classic Conqueror crown. He also holds the momentum in 2026, having won in Knysna recently, but his two challengers from those events will look to turn the tables at Zwartkops Raceway. The 2025 Top of the Hill Challenge saw James Temple (Shelby SA 1965 Shelby Daytona Coupe) lose out on the crown by a mere 0.4 of a second, while Jonathan du Toit was also in close contention. This time, du Toit will be in the Trans Africa Racing Lola T70 Spyder in Class H5. Two drivers who will take advantage of the format change are Franco Scribante (1970 Chevron B19) and Reghard Roets (1990 Nissan R32 GTR). The latter pair shared the podium with Schofield in Knysna. These five drivers are set for one of the best battles of the year.
And it is not like they will be the only ones in contention either. Heinrich du Preez will make his second appearance in the HSR Customs 1985 Cobra KCC. Paige Lindenberg (Shelby SA 1968 Shelby Escort) will be back on the roster, having missed the previous edition; so too will Warren Lombard (PepBoys Automotive 1965 Cobra). A notable new addition to this year’s Classic Conqueror line-up is Devin Robertson (Efficiency Staffing Solutions 1992 Nissan R32).
This year’s oldest car in the Classic Conqueror field will again be driven by Piri Piri Racing’s Rodney Green, a 93-year-old MG Magna. In total, 34 driver-car combinations will take to the course on Saturday.
Reghard Roets
The majority of those will also form part of Sunday’s field of 41 campaigners.
The Road Car & Supercar title will be defended by Willie de Beer in his WD Town 2017 Porsche 991 Turbo S, with this being his first such event since last year’s Top Of The Hill Challenge. While his top rivals from 2025 are not on the entry list, it is by no means certain that this will be an easy challenge for him. Especially not with the likes of season campaigners Brandon Dean (2025 Ferrari 296 GTB) and Anton Pommersheim (Shelby SA 2016 Shelby Mustang Supersnake) for company. The defending Astron Energy Polo Cup champion and SATC SupaCup frontrunner, Rory Atkinson (Volkswagen Motorsport 2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI), will also be a driver to watch out for.
In the Modified Production Cars, Roets (BB Motorsport 2014 Nissan GTR R35) will be looking to make it three-in-a-row Top of the Hill Challenge titles. This will again be the most fiercely contested battle, particularly with fellow seasoned big guns Franco Scribante (2016 Nissan GTR R35), Craig Czank (Czank Racing 2026 Mitsubishi EVO 9), Devin Robertson (Efficiency Staffing Solutions 2000 Lotus Exige), Aldo Scribante (WCT 2003 Audi TT), and Silvio Scribante (Cemza 2004 Audi RS3) all forming part of the line-up.
Some more significant entrants to watch out for will be Lee Thompson (Lee Thompson Racing 2004 Lotus Exige). He will be making his Top of the Hill Challenge debut but is widely regarded as one of the most exciting drivers around Zwartkops Raceway, in any direction. Jonathan Mogotsi, who finished third in last year’s event, will compete in a Volkswagen Motorsport 2022 Volkswagen Golf R. This will be his first outing on home soil in 2026, after being forced to withdraw from the Simola Hillclimb mere days before the event. Christopher Tait, the reigning Volkswagen Rookie Cup champion, will compete in his second event, this time in his King Price Xtreme 2018 Volkswagen Polo. Mark du Toit (Trans Africa Racing 2001 Ford GT1) is another driver few will bet against at Zwartkops Raceway. While various drivers will compete on Saturday and Sunday, Jared Rossouw (Oh My Gifts & Gadgets) will be the only driver fielding two cars in the same category, having entered his 2012 Volkswagen Golf R and 2003 Audi TT.
Robert Wolk
The fastest times are set to come again in the Single Seaters & Supercars group, where Robert Wolk (Investchem 2005 Gould GR55) will look to defend his crown. This year will see an influx of challengers for this crown. Two significant names are JM Gerber (2007 Van Diemen Formula M), who won the title in 2024, as well as Ian Schofield (Investchem 2018 Mygale SJ), who took the runner-up spot in Knysna behind Wolk.
Apart from fast-paced, top-class challenges, fans can also look forward to XS Promotions Drifting Displays between sessions, with passenger drift rides also on offer on the skidpan. Masterdrive Motorsport will also be offering passenger lap experiences.
The programme for both days will look fairly similar, with four practice sessions, four qualifying sessions, and the class finals. Saturday will see the Top 10 Shootout for the Classic Conqueror crown, while Sunday will see three Top 10 Shootouts.
Spectator tickets are available at the Zwartkops Raceway entrance gate. Spectators can experience the entire weekend for R200 per ticket, while separate event-day tickets are available for R120 per day. Children under 12 will enter for free.
