Toyota’s GR Cup crowns champions after strong 2025 campaign

THE 2025 GR CUP season drew to a spectacular close on the weekend of October 24 and 25 at the tight and technical Zwartkops Raceway in Gauteng. With the titles already decided across all three categories — the GR Cup Media Challenge, GR Cup Dealer Challenge and the GR86 Development Academy — the pressure may have been off, but the competition on track remained as fierce as ever.

The finale at Zwartkops marked the end of another standout season for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa’s GR Cup series, which continues to strengthen the link between road and race. With full grids, close battles, and a platform for both professional and emerging drivers, the 2025 season delivered on its promise of excitement and development in equal measure.

Champions crowned

The newly crowned champions for 2025 are: • GR Cup Media Challenge: Nabil Abdool (SuperSport) • GR Cup Dealer Challenge: Mario de Sousa (Motus Toyota) • GR86 Development Academy: Jason Coetzee

Each class showcased a mix of experience and fresh talent over the seven-round season, with tight racing and multiple winners throughout.

At Zwartkops, Abdool reaffirmed his pace with another strong showing in the Media Challenge, while CAR Magazine’s Kyle Kock and other contenders ensured the fight for podiums remained lively to the very end.

In the Dealer Challenge, title-winner Mario de Sousa wrapped up his campaign with consistent results, while Werner Venter and Werner Horn kept the competition honest in a fiercely contested final round.

The GR86 Development Academy — a category designed to groom the next generation of racing drivers — saw champion Jason Coetzee continue his fine form, fending off spirited challenges from young Namibian newcomers Kobus Reyneke and Kian Fussell, both showing promising early form in their first saloon car outings.

Looking ahead

With another successful campaign completed, planning for the 2026 GR Cup season is already under way. The series is expected to feature expanded grids and even greater competition as TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa continues to invest in developing local driving talent.

Next up for TGRSA are two major events on the national calendar: the South African Rally-Raid Championship and the SA National Rally Championship, taking place in Vryheid and Dullstroom respectively this coming weekend.