The weekend’s highly anticipated second round of the 2023 GR Cup, part of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa, came to a thrilling conclusion at the Killarney Race Circuit in Cape Town on Saturday, 18 March. The event saw six of the country’s best motoring writers compete in Toyota GR86 road cars that had been slightly modified for track racing, mainly in terms of safety equipment.
Chad Luckhoff (Auto Trader) posted the fastest time in qualifying, securing pole position for the first race. However, it was Mark Jones (Citizen) who went on to take the victory in the opening race, with Denis Droppa (TimesLIVE) finishing second and Setshaba Mashigo (ASAMM) taking third place. Luckhoff finished in fourth, with Reuben van Niekerk (Jumping Kids/Wheels24) in fifth, and Maroela Media’s Brendon Staniforth in sixth place after a race filled with on-track action and altercations.
“It was my first time racing at Killarney, and the wet qualifying made it particularly tricky for me, ” said Setshaba Mashigo. “But I’m happy with my performance in the opening race and finishing in third place. It was tough out there, but I loved every second.”
In the second race, Mark Jones proved once again to be a formidable opponent, taking a back-to-back victory. Mashigo finished in second place, with Droppa in third, with the remainder of the field finishing in the same order as before.
“We’re thrilled with the excitement and competition on display this weekend at the GR Cup,” said Riaan Esterhuysen, Toyota SA Motors’ newly appointed Senior Manager: Toyota Product PR and Toyota Gazoo Racing. “Congratulations to Mark Jones for winning both races, and to all the drivers for their excellent performances. It was an intense competition, and we’re already looking forward to the next race at the Zwartkops Raceway near Pretoria in Gauteng on May 20th, 2023.”
The next round of the 2023 GR Cup promises to be just as exciting as this one, with all the drivers looking to improve their standings in the championship. Fans can follow the latest news and updates about the event on the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa website and social media platforms.
