The third round of the 2025 GR Cup, Toyota South Africa’s premier one-make racing series, will ignite the Aldo Scribante Circuit in Gqeberha on Saturday, May 10.
Image: Supplied – Toyota South Africa Motors
MY GENERATION had its share of weirdos, and I was one of them.
I walked out of a cinema after watching a Kung Fu movie, and I actually believed I could fight. Watch a Rocky movie, and I was a boxer. But it was when I watched movies involving cars speeding, chasing or racing that I was stirred the most – maybe it’s because I couldn’t drive at the time.
Growing up, I always wanted a job that involved driving really, really, REALLY fast. Imagine that as a career. I envied the Formula One and Rally drivers, as well as the motoring journalists who got to review and test new models.
Now motoring journalists seem to have fallen with the seat of their overalls in the butter. They get to race each other in real cars around a real track. Not only them, dealers also get to satisfy their need for speed.
I have never been more envious in my life!
Having said all that, the third round of the 2025 GR Cup, Toyota South Africa’s premier one-make racing series, will ignite the Aldo Scribante Circuit in Gqeberha on Saturday, May 10.
Friday will be reserved for practice and set-up, with Qualifying and two heats of racing to follow on Saturday.
The big talking point ahead of Round 3 is the debut of the new automatic GR Yaris in the GR Cup Media Challenge. Until now, competitors have raced the manual version, but from Aldo onwards, the new model — featuring an 8-speed automatic gearbox — takes over.
Powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine, the world's most powerful three-cylinder unit, the new GR Yaris produces 215kW and 390Nm of torque. It sprints from 0-100 km/h in just 5.5 seconds and reaches a top speed of 230 km/h, promising to shake up the Media Challenge dynamics for the remainder of the season.
Meanwhile, Dealer Challenge drivers will continue competing in the GR Corolla, and the GR86 Development Academy cars remain unchanged.
The 2.48km Aldo Scribante Raceway, with its flat layout, technical corners, and fast straights, demands precision and rewards bravery. With sunny, mild-to-warm weather forecast, conditions should be perfect for an action-packed weekend.
Yes, these are the journos I mentioned earlier.
Nabil Abdool (SuperSport) leads the GR Cup Media Challenge standings with a perfect 28 points from the opening two rounds. Kyle Kock (CAR Magazine) follows on 20 points, with Phuti Mpyane (TimesLive) sitting third on 16. Lawrence Minnie (AutoTrader) is fourth with 12 points, ahead of Charl Bosch (Citizen) on 8 and our own Willem van de Putte (Independent Media) with 4 points.
With only 14 points available this weekend, the chase for positions behind Abdool remains wide open.
As for those lucky so-and-so's in the Dealer Challenge, Mario de Sousa (Motus Toyota) holds the early advantage, with Devon Scott and Paul de Vos (GR Driving Academy) pushing hard. Werner Venter and Theo Brits (NMI Menlyn/Centurion), along with Marius Claasen and Andries de Villiers (Rola Motors), will look to close the gap, while Riaan du Ru (CFAO Mobility), who joined the series at Kyalami, returns to add extra spice.
Jason Coetzee leads the GR86 Development Academy with 25 points, trailed by Kent Swartz and Khanya Ngqenya. All three will be eager to consolidate their positions on the technical Eastern Cape circuit.
Meanwhile, Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa acknowledged its sponsors, announcing that they enjoy a mutually beneficial relationship with Toyota Financial Services, Garmin, Dunlop, Ferodo, Innovation and Kinto.
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