Under the cloudless autumn skies of Gauteng, Round 2 of the 2025 TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa GR Cup roared into the iconic Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit, delivering another adrenaline-charged weekend of motorsport theatre. With three classes—GR Cup Media Challenge, GR Cup Dealer Challenge, and the GR86 Development Academy—vying for glory, the stakes were high, the margins razor-thin, and the racing uncompromising.
Media Masterclass: Nabil Abdool Dominates in the GR Yaris
If Round 1 hinted at supremacy, Round 2 confirmed it—Nabil Abdool (SuperSport) was in a league of his own in the GR Cup Media Challenge. From the moment the lights went out on Saturday’s qualifying session, Abdool stamped his authority with a searing lap of 2:07.632, well clear of second-placed Kyle Kock (CAR Magazine).
Race 1 unfolded in predictable yet impressive fashion as Abdool converted pole into a commanding win, recording the fastest lap in the process. Kock and Phuti Mpanye (TimesLive) staged a thrilling battle for second, with Mpanye narrowly missing out. Behind them, Lawrence Minnie (AutoTrader) and Charl Bosch (Citizen) traded positions throughout the midfield, while Willem van de Putte (Independent Media/IOL) kept it tidy to round out the field.
Race 2 was a mirror image of the first, with Abdool once again leading from lights to flag. His fastest lap of 2:07.604 underscored just how dialled-in he was across both heats. With Kock and Mpanye locking out the remaining podium positions, Abdool’s double victory cements his status as the man to beat this season.
Dealer Duel: De Sousa Delivers a GR Corolla Clinic
In the GR Cup Dealer Challenge, the story was one of relentless pace and precision from Mario de Sousa (Motus). Clocking a best qualifying lap of 2:08.369, de Sousa held the front row with confidence and composure. His dominance wasn’t limited to one-lap pace either—when the lights went out, he transformed pole into back-to-back wins with clinical consistency.
Race 1 saw de Sousa glide to victory, fending off a spirited drive from Paul de Vos (GR Driving Academy), who registered his best performance yet in the series. Theo Brits (NMI Menlyn/Centurion) battled his way to a solid third, keeping a charging pack of experienced dealers at bay.
But it was Race 2 where de Sousa truly turned heads. Not only did he outpace his GR Corolla rivals, he crossed the line ahead of the entire field—media and GR86 classes included. His best lap of 2:07.510 was one of the fastest of the weekend. De Vos and Brits completed the podium once more, wrapping up a fiercely competitive but sportsmanlike battle among the dealer contingent.
Rising Stars Shine in the GR86 Development Academy
The GR86 Development Academy continues to be a proving ground for future stars of South African motorsport—and Round 2 delivered some of the closest racing yet. Kent Swartz topped qualifying by the slimmest of margins, a mere tenth of a second ahead of Jason Coetzee and Khanya Ngwenya.
Race 1 was an instant classic. Swartz, Ngwenya, and Coetzee crossed the line within half a second of each other, with Swartz taking the win by just three-tenths. Their on-track respect and razor-sharp competitiveness left spectators on the edge of their seats. The rest of the field wasn’t far behind, with Justin Rogers, Brandon van der Walt, and Jordan Moodley all delivering strong performances. Vatiswa Mokhonoana, one of the GR Academy’s breakthrough talents, brought her car home safely with another valuable finish under her belt.
Race 2 saw Coetzee hit back with a faultless drive to edge out Ngwenya by just 0.12 seconds, taking his first win of the season. Van der Walt showed his class to claim the final podium spot, while Swartz, Rogers, Moodley, and Mokhonoana continued their development with strong pace and consistency.
Looking Ahead
With Round 2 now in the books, the 2025 TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa GR Cup is heating up across all classes. From seasoned media veterans to emerging young talent and fiercely competitive dealer teams, the field is more exciting and diverse than ever. As the season continues, all eyes will be on who can break through the pack—or maintain their lead—as the pressure mounts and the lap times tumble.
Next stop? Even more action, more stories, and more unforgettable moments in South Africa’s most exciting one-make series.
