The penultimate round of the 2025 South African Rally-Raid Championship (SARRC), the VAPS HCV Vryheid 400, delivered two days of relentless action in northern KwaZulu-Natal — and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa (TGRSA) emerged with strong performances to set up a thrilling championship finale.
Despite torrential rain, mud-soaked tracks, and a route that pushed both crews and machinery to the absolute limit, Saood Variawa and Francois Cazalet brought their GR Hilux IMT EVO home in a hard-fought second place overall, just 53 seconds shy of victory after more than six hours of racing. Their teammates Guy Botterill and Oriol Mena were also in contention for the podium before mechanical trouble intervened, ultimately being classified seventh following the event’s red-flag due to severe weather.
The weekend began on Friday, 31 October, with the 17 km Falken Wild Peak Prologue and a short, fast-paced 50 km Stage 1. Variawa and Cazalet ended the opening day in sixth overall, setting the stage for a determined comeback across Saturday’s two 163 km loops north of Vryheid.
Saturday’s conditions were among the most challenging of the season. Thick mud, flooded river crossings, and rapidly changing grip levels tested both driving skill and navigation, increasing the risk of costly mistakes. Rising to the challenge, Variawa and Cazalet pushed hard in the final stage, clawing back over a minute on the leaders before the race was halted after 133 km due to a severe rainstorm. Their second-place finish strengthened their lead in the championship standings heading into the final round.
“It wasn’t a bad weekend overall — the pace was definitely there,” said Variawa. “We made some mistakes early on and lost about four minutes, but we managed to claw some of that back in the final loop. I pushed as hard as I could in the wet, taking about a minute and a half out of the Ford ahead. Unfortunately, we just fell short, so the championship fight goes down to the wire.”
Botterill and Mena were equally impressive, setting competitive times on every split and showcasing their pace throughout the event. However, a rear differential failure forced them to slow dramatically in the closing kilometres, costing a likely top-three finish. With the storm halting the event prematurely, they were classified seventh overall.
“We had a good run and a bad run at the same time,” said Botterill. “The pace was fantastic, and the car felt great, but the rear diff failure hurt us. Still, Oriol and I are working well together, and there’s a big result coming soon.”
For newcomer Sa’aad Variawa, partnered with experienced co-driver Zaheer Bodhanya, the Vryheid 400 marked his first national rally-raid race. Although a minor electrical issue prevented him from finishing, his performance in the qualifying race hinted at a promising career ahead.
TGRSA Team Principal Shameer Variawa praised the team’s effort:
“Vryheid was one of the toughest events we’ve faced all season — the tight forest sections, technical mountain trails, and torrential rain demanded maximum focus and endurance. Both crews performed exceptionally well. Saood and Francois were fast and consistent, while Guy and Oriol showed incredible pace before being sidelined by an issue beyond their control. The team worked flawlessly under pressure — a great performance as we head to the season finale.”
With just one round remaining — the Northam Platinum Bushveld 400 on 21–22 November — TGRSA enters the finale firmly in contention for championship honours, with both crews poised to close the 2025 season on a high.
