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.

#racing-cars

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