From newsroom to racetrack: our journalist's scary journey to conquer the Toyota GR Cup Challenge

As I write this my heart is still pounding and my brain racing and foggy with all the information I need to digest.

They call it a shakedown and it was our introduction to the Toyota GR Cup 2025, at Toyota Gazoo Racing SA headquarters at Zwartkops Raceway, Pretoria.

I’ll be representing Independent Media and IOL against five other media houses all racing the GR Yaris.

I wouldn’t be lying if I said I was and still am very nervous about what’s to unfold when the seven series racing season starts off at Cape Town’s Killarney Racetrack next weekend.

Since my confirmation as a driver, for now, racing driver sounds a bit coy,  I have had countless discussions with friends and colleagues who have participated in previous seasons, watched many YouTube videos about racing craft, racing lines, braking, cornering and accelerating and watched in-car footage of the tracks we’ll be racing on.

First-hand experience

And while that all helps, it’s an awful lot of information, but there’s nothing like experiencing it first hand.

We were given an introduction to what the season will hold, some friendly advice and how to use some of the car’s technology as well as the Garmin Catalyst Driving Performance Optimiser that records all your data on the track for evaluation and improvement.

Something like when you see F1 racing drivers peering over screens analysing every second behind the wheel.

We had already been fitted and measured for all our racing paraphernalia and apart from the fire-proof suit, which we will receive next week, we were handed our shoes, gloves, balaclava, helmet and HANS device (head and neck support device).

Our branded GR Yaris steeds stood in line as I nervously climbed past the rollcage, squeezed into the racing seat and pulled the five-point harness as tight as it would go. 

Apparently your nether regions are supposed to be squished into an uncomfortable position.

We would follow at a fairly quick pace behind one of the instructors to get a feel for the car and the track.

It's noisy

As motoring journalists we talk about noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels when testing cars, but in a stripped out GR Yaris racing car there is just noise vibration and harshness. A lot of it.

My biggest concern is how to cope with other cars around me in a competitive environment, so we drove side by side around the track just to get a feel.

I have a strong suspicion that it’s going to be a bit more bumper to bumper during a race when championship points are up for grabs and Toyota GR 86s and GR Corollas get into the mix as well.

This was followed by driving around the track with an instructor to guide us and give us tips on how to get the best out of the car and ourselves.

Gaining confidence

Understand that there’s very little mechanical sympathy when racing. There’s no gentle slowing down or slow gear changes. Once you’ve identified your brake marker you press hard on the brakes, really hard, akin to an emergency stop in a road car. Slam it into gear before turning into every corner.

For me it was going into and out of corners that I needed to work on to prevent my semi-slick tyres from scrubbing.

With helmets and HANS device on there were two sessions on our own. 

Going into every corner I had the instructor’s voice in my head as I tried to pilot the car as best I could.

Make no mistake, there’s a lot going on. Inside the car, you have to keep your wits and 100 percent concentration is a non-negotiable.

Look, I’m not going to get a call from Christian Horner at Red Bull Racing, but after about 60 laps at speed I feel a bit more comfortable but still nervous, so let the racing begin.

So, will the revs prove to be mightier than the pen? Only time will tell...

GR cup dates

Round 1:  Cape Town 7-8 March, Killarney International Raceway

Round 2: Midrand 11-12 April, Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit

Round 3: Gqeberha 9-10 May, Aldo Scribante Raceway

Round 4: Pretoria 20-21 June, Zwartskops Raceway

Round 5: East London 18-19 July, East London Grand Prix Circuit

Round 6: Cape Town 12-13 September, Killarney International Raceway

Round 7: Pretoria 24-25 October, Zwartkops Raceway