The 2025 GR Cup delivered another thrilling chapter in Gqeberha over Mother’s Day weekend, as Aldo Scribante Circuit played host to Round 3 of South Africa’s premier single-make racing showcase. Under bright Eastern Cape skies, the 2.4-kilometre track—renowned for its grippy, abrasive surface and tight, flowing configuration—set the perfect stage for wheel-to-wheel combat across all three GR Cup categories: the GR Cup Media Challenge, GR Cup Dealer Challenge, and GR86 Development Academy.
Media Challenge – Abdool Untouchable in New GR Yaris Auto
The big story in the Media Challenge was the much-anticipated debut of the automatic GR Yaris—and it was Nabil Abdool (SuperSport) who made it his own. After dominating qualifying with a blistering 1:11.876 lap, Abdool stamped his authority with two clinical lights-to-flag victories, maintaining his 2025 unbeaten streak.
Race 1 saw Abdool ease into a rhythm, leaving the rest of the field to scrap for the remaining podium places. Phuti Mpyane (TimesLive) edged out Kyle Kock (CAR Magazine) in a tense yet respectful battle for second. Lawrence Minnie (AutoTrader) kept things tidy in fourth, while Willem van de Putte (Independent Media/IOL) held off Charl Bosch (Citizen) in a close-run fight at the back.
Race 2 offered more of the same up front. Abdool was simply in a class of his own, while Kock fought back with determination to claim second ahead of Mpyane. Minnie again claimed a consistent fourth, but this time Bosch came out on top of his duel with Van de Putte.
Media Challenge Highlights:
- Abdool’s perfect weekend included a best race lap of 1:12.805.
- Mpyane and Kock remain the main challengers, trading podiums throughout.
- The automatic GR Yaris proved a hit in its first race outing.
Dealer Challenge – De Sousa Dominates as De Vos Recovers
In the Dealer Challenge, Mario de Sousa (Motus Toyota) was the weekend’s standout performer, sweeping both races after topping qualifying with a time of 1:12.015. In Race 1, De Sousa fended off early pressure from Paul de Vos (GR Driving Academy) before the latter went off-track mid-race. Werner Venter (NMI Menlyn/Centurion) and Riaan du Ru (CFAO Mobility) made the most of the opportunity to round out the podium.
Race 2 saw De Vos recover spectacularly, slicing through the field to claim second behind the unflappable De Sousa, who posted an impressive best lap of 1:12.811. Venter again showed great consistency to secure another third-place finish, while Du Ru, De Villiers, Boonzaaier and Jones completed the order.
Dealer Challenge Highlights:
- De Sousa’s back-to-back wins reinforce his title credentials.
- De Vos showed resilience with a storming Race 2 comeback.
- Tight midfield battles continue to define this hotly contested class.
GR86 Development Academy – Coetzee Extends Winning Run
Young talent continues to shine in the GR86 Development Academy, where Jason Coetzee was once again the man to beat. After securing pole position with a 1:11.838 in qualifying, Coetzee led every lap across both races, demonstrating poise, pace, and maturity beyond his years.
Mbuso Ngwenya pushed hard and came closest to challenging the leader, finishing second in both heats. Justin Rogers impressed with two podium finishes of his own, while Kent Swartz, Brandon van der Walt, Jordan Moodley, and Vatiswa Mokhonoana engaged in competitive battles further down the order.
Race 2 in particular saw the field close up, with the top five covered by less than seven seconds—proof of the development programme’s success in nurturing race-ready talent.
GR86 Academy Highlights:
- Coetzee’s fastest lap of 1:12.207 was the benchmark all weekend.
- Ngwenya’s consistent pressure shows he’s closing the gap.
- Rogers is emerging as a podium regular in this highly competitive field.
A Celebration of Speed, Skill—and Mothers
With clear skies, cool temperatures, and a capacity crowd enjoying a day at the track, Round 3 of the 2025 GR Cup had all the ingredients of a motorsport classic. The backdrop of Mother’s Day added warmth to the electric atmosphere as families gathered trackside to cheer on their local heroes.
With the championship battles heating up and fresh faces continuing to rise through the ranks, all eyes now turn to Round 4. If this weekend in Gqeberha was anything to go by, the 2025 GR Cup is shaping up to be one of the most competitive seasons yet.
