The battle lines are drawn as Round 6 of the 2025 GR Cup descends on Killarney International Raceway in Cape Town this weekend, 12 and 13 September. With just two rounds left in the season, tension is rising across all three GR Cup categories, and the tight complexes and fast straights of Killarney — known for its changeable grip levels and unpredictable weather — promises a full-throttle test of skill and commitment.
After the shortened East London event in July, the GR Cup returns to a full programme this weekend, with practice on Friday followed by Qualifying and two races on Saturday. While Friday is expected to be warm and dry, Saturday’s forecast includes a chance of light rain, which could throw a curveball into the various championship storylines.
All three categories that make up Toyota South Africa’s GR Cup will be on track this weekend: the GR Cup Media Challenge, the GR Cup Dealer Challenge, and the GR86 Development Academy.
In the GR Cup Media Challenge, Nabil Abdool (SuperSport) continues to lead the standings after a flawless season to date. He holds a commanding 23-point advantage over Phuti Mpyane (TimesLIVE), who in turn is being hunted down by Kyle Kock (CAR Magazine). Lawrence Minnie (AutoTrader), Charl Bosch (The Citizen), and Willem van de Putte (Independent Media / IOL) complete the media lineup.
The GR Cup Dealer Challenge will again see a much-expanded field in action, bolstering the overall number of cars on the grid significantly. Mario de Sousa (Motus Toyota) continues to lead the charge, with Devon Scott (GR Driving Academy) and Werner Venter (NMI Toyota Menlyn) completing the top three in the championship standings. However, many Dealer Challenge drivers share their race cars across different rounds, meaning the points don’t always tell the full story. Paul de Vos will step back into the GR Driving Academy car this weekend, while Marius Claassen (Rola Toyota) is out due to a back injury. Gustav Pelser also misses this round as his team awaits crucial parts for their car.
In the GR86 Development Academy, Jason Coetzee enjoys a 23-point lead over Kent Swartz, with Mbuso Ngwenya currently third in the standings. While some drivers will sit out the event due to academic commitments, six GR86 cars are expected on the grid. One driver to watch is Calvin Dias, an experienced campaigner from the Polo Cup series, who joins the Academy for the Killarney round and is expected to be on the pace from the outset.
With only one more round to follow after this — at Zwartkops Raceway in October — every point scored this weekend could prove decisive. The high-speed challenge of Killarney, coupled with the threat of changing conditions, promises an action-packed penultimate round of the 2025 GR Cup.
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa Acknowledges Its Sponsors
Toyota enjoys a mutually beneficial relationship with Toyota Financial Services, Garmin, Dunlop, Ferodo and Kinto.
Published by: Karabo Sethusha
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