Round 5 of the 2025 South African Touring Car Championship (SATC) and SupaCup season unfolded this past weekend at the legendary East London Grand Prix Circuit in the Eastern Cape. The circuit is famous for its flat-out sweepers — Potter’s Pass and Rifle Bend — and its high-speed nature is tempered by a technical infield that includes part of a public road section along the main straight.
This year’s event played out under strong winds, changing weather, and numerous race stoppages, which tested teams’ focus and adaptability throughout the weekend. Despite these challenges, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa (TGRSA) delivered a strong performance, including a race victory and another important podium in the SATC championship.
While Michael van Rooyen and Nathi Msimanga returned to action in their GR Corollas, Saood Variawa was absent from this round as he continued his international rally-raid testing commitments in Portugal with the latest evolution of the GR Hilux EVO, ahead of the upcoming Baja Aragon. In his place, Sa’aad Variawa stepped up to drive the third TGRSA Corolla — marking his second outing in the premier category.
Qualifying on Saturday morning saw Van Rooyen set the 4th-fastest time with a 1:24.431. Sa’aad Variawa, despite being close to the leading pace during Friday’s practice, made a small mistake on his flyer lap and qualified 6th (1:24.860). He later reported that the car felt slightly down on power over East London’s long straights. Msimanga, still nursing a compromised car following a crash in FP3, placed 7th (1:25.003) as he continued to adapt to the altered handling.
Race 1 delivered a mixed bag for the team. Msimanga produced a calm and tactical drive to finish 3rd, taking advantage of incidents ahead while managing the lingering effects of Friday’s crash. “The car wasn’t the same after the hit. I was fighting under braking and missing straight-line speed,” he explained.
Van Rooyen, caught in traffic after a tangle during an overtaking move, brought his GR Corolla home in 5th, while Sa’aad Variawa, still adjusting to the car and conditions, finished in 6th — gaining valuable experience and more seat time in the championship.
The second race was shortened to 6 laps due to a red-flagged restart. TGRSA used the reverse grid to great effect, with Van Rooyen starting second and claiming a decisive race win, extending his lead in the Drivers’ Championship. “We made setup changes overnight, and the car felt great again,” he said. “Sa’aad let me through quickly, which really helped, and I could manage the gap to the finish.”
Sa’aad Variawa, running near the front early on, played a crucial support role in 4th, continuing his learning curve in the top tier. Msimanga crossed the line in 5th, but was classified 6th after a post-race penalty. “We had strong pace on Friday before the crash, but the weekend got away from us a bit. Still, we recovered points,” he said.
In the SupaCup field, Dawie van der Merwe once again delivered a tidy and consistent performance in the TGRSA SupaStarlet. After qualifying in sixth place, he ran measured, clean races across the weekend. In Race 1, he avoided the carnage to finish in fourth, and slotted into sixth in Race 2 — collecting more points and continuing his upward momentum in the championship standings.
With five rounds now complete, the team prepares for the penultimate round of the 2025 season, taking place at Killarney International Raceway in Cape Town on 13 September. With championship battles tightening across both categories, TGRSA will aim to build on their momentum as the season enters its final stages.
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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