Toyota SA has announced the 2025 Toyota Gazoo Racing SA GR Cup consisting of the GR Cup media and dealer challenges. The competition takes the selected participating drivers from the foremost automotive South African publications and GR dealerships to flex their driving skills and race temperament on some of South Africa's most iconic circuits, including Kyalami in Gauteng and Aldo Scribante in East London.
This year marks four years since the media challenge was established in 2021, with motoring journalists racing the then new and race-prepped Toyota GR Yaris. Ashley Oldfield of Cars.co.za took the honours of the inaugural series, chased closely by Thomas Falkiner of TimesLIVE.
A year later in 2022 Arena Holdings group motoring editor Denis Droppa entered the GR Cup fray racing in the GR 86 sport coupe. Young gun Setshaba Mashego, representing the website In4ride.com won the championship, while the 2024 competition that ran minus a representative from your favourite automotive read was won by Sean Nurse of AutoTrader in the GR Corolla hatchback.
The 2025 season kicks off at the Mother City's Killarney International Raceway on March 8 featuring fresh faces who will take to the track for the first time in the GR Yaris with a more powerful engine, and the option of an automatic transmission.
TimesLIVE will be represented by Phuti Mpyane. The other five media competitors who will take to the track in the GR Yaris are:
- Willem van de Putte (Independent Media/IOL)
- Charl Bosch (Citizen)
- Lawrence Minnie (Auto Trader)
- Kyle Kock (CAR Magazine)
- Nabil Abdool (SuperSport)
Meanwhile, the GR Cup Dealer challenge will shift to the GR Corolla as used in 2024. The driver line-up includes:
- Werner Venter and Theo Brits (sharing the NMI Menlyn/Centurion car)
- Mario de Sousa (Motus)
- Paul de Vos and Devon Scott (sharing the GR Driving Academy car)
- Johan Boonzaaier and Rudi Boonzaaier (sharing the Waterberg Toyota car)
- Kevin Crowie and Tiaan Combrink (Halfway Toyota)
- Marius Claasen and Andries de Villiers (sharing the Rola Motors car)
Adding further excitement to the 2025 season, the GR86 Development Academy will again form part of the GR Cup structure, offering up-and-coming drivers a chance to showcase their skills in a competitive environment. The Academy’s driver line-up will be announced later.
Be sure to follow the racing action through timely race reports on TimesLIVE and on social media.
The GR Cup enjoys a mutually beneficial relationship with Toyota Financial Services, Garmin, Dunlop, Ferodo and Kinto.
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