TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa (TGRSA) heads to Mpumalanga this weekend for the Ermelo Rally, Round 5 of the 2026 South African National Rally Championship, with the team determined to bank a clean run after a heartbreaking late retirement at the previous round.
Based at Ermelo High School, the gravel event is the longest test of the season so far: 16 special stages spread across Friday and Saturday, with seven stages and around 70 competitive kilometres on day one, building to nine stages and roughly 77 kilometres on day two.
The forecast is on the crews’ side, with mild, clear conditions and no rain predicted over the weekend. After changeable weather at previous rounds, the dry outlook should allow competitors to push closer to the limit across both days.
TGRSA will field its Toyota GR Yaris rally car in the hands of motoring journalist Mark Jones, partnered by navigator Kes Naidoo. The pair were running third in the NRC2 class with one stage remaining at the GR Legends Rally when an over-rev on a downshift triggered the GR Yaris’s protective engine systems, ending their rally within sight of the finish.
That result leaves Jones third in the NRC2 title standings on 61 points, ten adrift of second-placed Bruce Swatton and 19 behind championship leader Ismaeel Davids.
The mechanical issue that ended the GR Legends Rally has since been resolved, with development of the GR Yaris continuing at pace ahead of Ermelo.
“We sorted out the issue after my little mistake, and the car is up and running well,” said Jones. “We’re continuing with development, as that’s part of the plan for the year, and we’ve made some changes to the rear suspension. The whole idea is just to keep improving.”
With the car sorted, Jones’ attention has turned to what he regards as one of the most important rounds on the 2026 calendar.
“I’ve got to get over the disappointment of the GR Legends Rally and get my head into Ermelo, which I believe is a pivotal rally in the season,” he said. “It’s a long rally, it’s a tricky rally – 16 stages over Friday and Saturday, even longer than the GR Legends Rally. You make a mistake, you don’t finish, and you go out on the last stage after all the hard work – you come away with nothing, not a point. It’s important that we finish.”
A strong result at Ermelo would also set the team up for the next round on the calendar.
“Finishing here gives us good momentum going into Algoa, which will be run as two rounds – Friday and Saturday will each count separately,” Jones explained. “We don’t want to go into Algoa having not finished the GR Legends Rally and then not finished Ermelo too. So the pressure is on.”
Despite that pressure, Jones says his approach will stay the same.
“My mindset isn’t going to change. I’m aware of what we did wrong last time, and we’re going to follow the same positive attitude,” he said. “Kes and I are learning all the time, and we’ll keep taking what we learn into the rally. I’ll go as fast as I can and take it easy where we need to – you always need a bit of luck in rally, because one wrong turn, a curb, or a rock that’s moved and isn’t on the notes, and anything can happen.”
“We’ve got a good car, and Mark’s mindset is right. The team has put the GR Legends Rally behind them and are now looking towards the rest of the season,” added Team Manager, Leeroy Poulter. “I’m confident in the car and confident in my crew. Sixteen stages is long, but we have no reason to believe they can’t bring it home.”
With the GR Yaris programme continuing to mature, favourable conditions forecast and Jones and Naidoo eager to convert pace into points, TGRSA heads into the Ermelo Rally aiming to turn a promising season into a finished result.
Published by: Karabo Sethusha
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