Toyota Gazoo Racing seals back-to-back SATC success at Zwartkops

Just saying, no one should doubt the enthusiasm of Kimberlites for motorsport. It’s very obvious that there’s more than a handful of petrolheads in the Diamond City. You can see evidence for this in how Oval Track Racing is supported, the enthusiasm for the annual Easter drags and the bulging crowds at local spinning events.

Now, though it’s a pity that the city doesn’t have a race track of its own – which would have been great – at least our racing fans can keep up to date with the racing happening around the country.

Having said that, the curtain came down on the 2025 South African Touring Car (SATC) Championship this past weekend at the Zwartkops Raceway near Pretoria, as TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa (TGRSA) signed off on an extremely successful season.

While Michael van Rooyen had all but secured the title ahead of the final round, the team arrived at Zwartkops with a clear objective: finish the year strong and maintain their status as championship leaders.

Van Rooyen seals title in style

The 2025 SATC season featured seven rounds at circuits including Killarney, Kyalami, East London, Gqeberha and Zwartkops. For TGRSA, the highlight was Van Rooyen’s driver’s title, backed by the Corolla’s pace and reliability all year.

At the finale, Van Rooyen delivered another composed weekend, qualifying second-fastest, just 0.206 seconds off pole. He converted that pace into a pair of solid race results – second and sixth – to seal his championship crown.

Teammates Nathi Msimanga and Sa’aad Variawa also impressed, finishing inside the top 10 in both races despite limited earlier-season appearances. Their consistency underlined the team’s depth and competitiveness.

SupaCup consistency

In the SupaCup class, Dawie van der Merwe lined up eighth on the grid after qualifying and managed to improve on that position in the final race, finishing eighth after a tough first heat.

Those points helped strengthen his fifth place in the title standings heading into the finale.

Toyota celebrates another successful campaign

Reflecting on the season, Glenn Crompton, Vice President of Marketing at Toyota South Africa Motors, commented: “I’m extremely pleased to have successfully defended TGRSA’s SATC title. Last year, Saood made us proud, and this year it was Michael who flew the flag for the brand. 

“This underscores not only the prowess of our SATC-spec Toyota Corollas, but also Toyota’s commitment to local motorsport.”

With another championship secured, TGRSA is already preparing for the 2026 season. The team’s focus now shifts to upcoming events in the South African Rally-Raid and National Rally Championships — proof that their racing calendar remains as busy as ever.