The 2025 GR Cup season reaches its climax this weekend, 24–25 October, as South Africa’s premier one-make racing series heads to the iconic Zwartkops Raceway in Gauteng for the seventh and final round of the year. The tight, technical 2.4 km circuit near Pretoria has long been a fan and driver favourite, promising an adrenaline-fuelled finale to what has been a standout season of competition.
All three GR Cup categories will be in action once more — the GR Cup Media Challenge, the GR Cup Dealer Challenge, and the GR86 Development Academy. While champions in each class have already been crowned, the final round is expected to deliver plenty of fireworks, with pride, performance, and in many cases redemption, still very much on the line.
The weekend kicks off with Friday practice sessions, followed by qualifying and two feature races on Saturday. Conditions are expected to be clear and warm, with temperatures peaking in the low thirties — perfect weather for high-octane racing.
GR Cup Media Challenge
In the Media Challenge, Nabil Abdool (SuperSport) returns as the newly crowned 2025 champion. Abdool secured the title at the previous round in Cape Town despite being outpaced on track by Kyle Kock (CAR Magazine), who dominated his home race.
Kock will be eager to finish the season on a high at Zwartkops, while Phuti Mpyane (TimesLive), Lawrence Minnie (AutoTrader), Charl Bosch (The Citizen), and Willem van de Putte (IOL) aim to close their campaigns with strong results. Although the title is decided, the competitive spirit and rivalries that have defined the media class this year are sure to remain on full display.
GR Cup Dealer Challenge
Mario de Sousa heads to Zwartkops having already claimed the Dealer Challenge crown, following a season of consistent, close-fought performances — including a nail-biting battle at Killarney against Devon Scott. With Scott absent from the finale, the spotlight turns to contenders Wener Venter, Theo Brits, Werner Horn, Tiaan Combrink, and the expanded dealer field that has brought depth and drama to the series.
The Dealer Challenge will again feature a mix of GR Corolla and manual GR Yaris machinery, a combination that has produced exciting overtaking and varied racing throughout the season.
GR86 Development Academy
Jason Coetzee arrives as the undisputed 2025 champion of the GR86 Development Academy, having set the benchmark all season. Podium contenders Kent Swartz and Khanya Ngwenya remain in the hunt, while Calvin Dias, who joined the series at the previous round, looks to build on a strong debut.
Adding to the excitement, two young Namibian karters — Kobus Reyneke and Kian Fussell — will make their GR86 tin-top debuts. Their presence promises fresh challenges and head-to-head battles with South Africa’s brightest young talent.
A Fitting Finale
With championship titles decided but bragging rights still very much up for grabs, the Zwartkops finale promises to be a fitting conclusion to an unforgettable 2025 season. The GR Cup has once again showcased the performance and durability of Toyota’s GR range, while providing a competitive platform for media, dealer, and developmental drivers to hone their skills behind the wheel.
All that remains is one final push to the chequered flag — and if the season so far is anything to go by, fans are in for a spectacular weekend of racing action.
