The final round of the 2025 South African Touring Car (SATC) Championship is set to take place this coming weekend (24 and 25 October) at the Zwartkops Raceway near Pretoria in Gauteng. The event marks the culmination of a highly competitive season, and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa (TGRSA) is aiming to end the year on a high.
The team will again be fielding three SATC-spec Toyota Corollas, piloted by Michael van Rooyen, Nathi Msimanga and Sa’aad Variawa. The Zwartkops Raceway is a home event for the team, and its tight layout and technical corners have often delivered thrilling race action. This weekend is expected to follow suit, with clear and warm weather forecast for both Friday’s practice sessions and Saturday’s main races.
With one round to go, Michael van Rooyen has all but secured the 2025 SATC Drivers’ Championship title, thanks to a string of consistent results throughout the season. He currently leads the standings with 143 points, well clear of his nearest rival who sits on 114 points, and while there is still a mathematical chance of losing the title, it would require an extraordinary set of circumstances.
Nathi Msimanga finds himself in 5th place on the log, while Saood Variawa holds 6th, despite missing several rounds this year. Sa’aad Variawa, who joined the season in Round 5, has delivered solid performances in his first SATC outings and currently sits 8th overall in the standings.
In the SupaCup category, Dawie van der Merwe will once again take the wheel of the TGRSA SupaStarlet. He currently occupies 5th place in the championship standings and will be aiming to move up to 4th with a strong performance in the final event. Dawie has shown excellent pace throughout the year and will be looking to capitalise on the team’s momentum to close out the season positively.
As the season draws to a close, the team’s focus now shifts to closing out 2025 with another strong performance at Zwartkops. With the championship title already secured, all eyes will be on how the TGRSA trio navigates the final challenge of the year and aims to lock in the team’s presence at the sharp end of the grid.
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa Acknowledges Its Sponsors
Toyota enjoys a mutually beneficial relationship with Toyota Financial Services, Innovation and Kinto.
Published by: Karabo Sethusha
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