Stella, South Africa — TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa (TGRSA) delivered a spirited comeback in Stage 2 of the 2025 South African Safari Rally, with both GR Hilux EVO crews finishing first and second in a gruelling opening leg of the Marathon Stage. The performance marked a dramatic turnaround from Stage 1 and reignited the local outfit’s campaign in South Africa’s premier cross-country rally.
Botterill and Murphy Blaze to Victory
Guy Botterill and co-driver Dennis Murphy (#211) put in a near-flawless run across the 356 km special stage to clinch a decisive stage win in 3hr 12min 36sec — 55 seconds clear of their teammates. The duo capitalised on a favourable starting position to carve through the field, navigating with precision and maintaining relentless pace across the fast, rugged terrain.
“Today was a great day,” said Botterill. “We benefited quite a lot from starting further down, but Dennis was great on the notes and we just managed to put it all together. It was really cool — super fast, high-speed stuff. Navigation was really tricky, so I think the guys in front suffered a lot, but that was our story yesterday. We capitalised on our position today, pushed really hard, and there were no issues with the car.”
The pair’s stage victory comes as a welcome boost following a difficult opening leg marred by setbacks and a time penalty. Their success was all the more vital given the self-reliant nature of the Marathon Stage — where no outside mechanical assistance is permitted overnight.
Variawa and Cazalet Claim Career-Best Rally Stage Finish
Not far behind, Saood Variawa and Francois Cazalet (#212) delivered their most competitive performance of the event so far, crossing the line in second place. Despite battling engine overheating issues in the closing stages, their tenacity helped secure a crucial 1-2 result for TGRSA.
“It was a really good day,” said Variawa. “Obviously, starting position helped a little bit. We pushed quite a lot. I think we were leading by about a minute and a half at one point. But in the last 120 kilometres, we went through a lot of bushes and the radiators got clogged up, so we had to back off. We lost a lot of time, but it’s a good result for the team.”
Their efforts saw them leap up to 12th overall in the general classification, now just 7min 15sec adrift of the event lead. Botterill and Murphy also made notable gains, climbing to 14th overall and shaving minutes off the gap to the front-runners.
The Stage 2 Challenge: Fast Tracks, Harsh Realities
The day’s route spanned 620 km in total — beginning with a 212 km liaison, followed by the demanding 356 km timed section, and concluding with a 55 km drive into the overnight bivouac near Stella. True to the character of the Safari Rally, the terrain presented a relentless mix of high-speed grasslands, sandy stretches, deep ruts, and brief patches of tarmac.
Compounding the challenge was the near-absence of visible tracks through long grass and dense vegetation, placing enormous pressure on co-drivers to decipher the roadbook under racing conditions.
With mechanical issues off the table and the GR Hilux EVOs emerging from the stage unscathed, the crews spent the evening undertaking self-servicing duties in line with Marathon Stage regulations — a true test of resilience, technical knowledge, and teamwork.
Eyes on Stage 3: The Return to Sun City
As the rally pivots toward Stage 3, crews will tackle a 246 km special followed by a 263 km liaison, returning to the relative familiarity of the Sun City bivouac. With conditions expected to remain dry and dusty, and the navigational complexity undiminished, the challenge remains formidable.
TGRSA’s dual podium finish on Stage 2 not only restores momentum but also reaffirms the squad’s competitive credentials as the second half of the Marathon Stage beckons.
With local expertise, strong team cohesion, and a pair of GR Hilux EVOs running at full strength, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa is poised to push deeper into contention as the 2025 South African Safari Rally continues.
