Johannesburg, South Africa – 26 June 2025
With four rounds of the 2025 South African National Circuit Championship already in the books, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa (TGRSA) is shifting gears – literally and figuratively – as it prepares to launch its off-circuit campaign with an ambitious double-header across two demanding disciplines. This coming weekend will mark the official start of the team’s rally-raid and national rally seasons, setting the stage for a high-stakes, high-performance year ahead.
Renault KEC 400 Fires Up Compressed 2025 SARRC Season
After a delayed start caused by a clash with the international South African Safari Rally and extreme weather in Thabazimbi, the South African Rally-Raid Championship (SARRC) is finally ready to roar to life. Appropriately, the 2025 season will begin where 2024 left off — at Legends Adventure Farm, just outside Bronkhorstspruit.
The Renault KEC 400, now elevated to the role of season opener, promises a high-intensity weekend of action. The Falken Wild Peak Prologue kicks off proceedings at 10:15 on Friday, 28 June, determining the start order for Stage 1, an 85-kilometre loop that sets off at 13:15. Saturday ups the ante with two grueling loops of 175 kilometres each. Stage 2 begins at 08:30, followed by a 30-minute service break, before Stage 3 sends competitors back into the bush for a repeat of the morning’s route.
TGRSA will field a formidable three-car lineup of GR Hilux IMT EVOs, each entry representing a mix of proven performance and promising potential.
- Guy Botterill, narrowly edged out of the 2024 title, returns with a new co-driver in Oriol Mena Valdearcos, an accomplished Spanish navigator with deep Dakar and W2RC experience.
- Saood Variawa, one of South Africa’s brightest young rally-raid stars, reunites with French co-driver Francois Cazalet. The duo’s pace at the recent Safari Rally has elevated expectations for a strong domestic showing.
- Making his SARRC debut is Portuguese ace João Ferreira, joined by compatriot and seasoned campaigner Filipe Palmeiro. Ferreira brings with him the pedigree of a 2022 European Baja Champion, while Palmeiro boasts a decorated year across international events. Their programme includes selected SARRC events as well as remaining W2RC rounds under the TGRSA banner.
Fans eager to follow the action can head to designated public viewing points or keep tabs on their favourite crews via the RallySafe app, available on both iOS and Android.
NRC Gets Underway with Tzaneen Double Round
As rally-raid competitors kick up dust in Gauteng, the TGRSA rally team will be threading their way through the scenic plantation roads of Tzaneen, Limpopo – a region known for both its lush beauty and technical rally challenges. The NTT Tzaneen National Rally, serving as Rounds 1 and 2 of the 2025 South African National Rally Championship (NRC), gets under way with a ceremonial start at NTT Toyota Tzaneen at 12:00 on Friday.
Across six special stages on Friday and six more on Saturday, the event will test crews with 173 km of pure stage competition over unpredictable, rhythm-breaking surfaces.
TGRSA’s entry is spearheaded by Mandla Mdakane, who returns after a solid 2024 showing behind the wheel of the team’s Starlet rally car. With regular co-driver Simon Vacy-Lyle temporarily unavailable due to family commitments, Mdakane will be joined for this event by Henry Adams. Despite the change, the team remains sharply focused on a strong start, backed by Mdakane’s ever-growing maturity and adaptability.
Momentum, Milestones, and Motivation
This jam-packed weekend across two disciplines marks a pivotal moment for TGRSA as it launches its 2025 off-circuit campaign in earnest. With a dynamic mix of seasoned professionals and rising stars, bolstered by new co-driver and driver pairings, the team is aiming not only for podiums but also for the kind of consistent performance that builds championship-winning seasons.
From Bronkhorstspruit’s dust trails to Tzaneen’s winding gravel paths, TGRSA’s mission is clear: dominate, develop, and deliver.
The 2025 motorsport season has just kicked into high gear — and TGRSA is ready for the ride.
