There aren’t many things more South African than “Gees” and cycling. What is Gees? It’s the whoops in the singletrack, the smiles, and the thumbs-ups from fellow MTB riders making memories in the dirt. It’s an experience like no other.
If you’re keen to sample #SeriousGees, there’s no better event than the FNB Wines2Whales, affectionately known as “The Race with Gees”. And this year, coasting in the trails of South Africa’s favourite MTB race will be South Africa’s favourite motor vehicle.
Toyota South Africa (TSAM) has signed a new sponsorship deal that sees TSAM become a headline sponsor of the event, which includes designations as the Official Vehicle Partner, Mixed Category Sponsor, and Route Partner to the FNB Wines2Whales. As Official Vehicle Partner to the FNB Wines2Whales, Toyota will be the vehicle brand of choice for the event’s staff, crew, and stakeholders.
“Our historical connection to cycling makes the FNB Wines2Whales event the ideal partnership for Toyota. As a lifestyle brand, the partnership fits as it reinforces our affinity for on-and off-road driving performance.
Toyota is proud to be associated with the FNB Wines2Whales.” – Vice President of Marketing at TSAM, Glenn Crompton.
In sponsoring the Mixed category – a popular race class in the Shiraz event for both experienced teams and those new to the sport – TSAM gains naming rights for the category, now referred to as the Toyota Mixed category, complete with a green Ciovita category leader jersey for the fastest team.
The FNB Wines2Whales prides itself on being more about the journey than the destination; that journey takes place over three days on a route that takes in the most incredible trails, historical paths, and breath-taking scenery from Lourensford Wine Estate to Oak Valley Estate before finishing at Curro Hermanus.
As the Official Route Partner of the event, TSAM introduced the Toyota Cruise Sections at this year’s race to show our vehicles’ readiness for adventure matches the like-minded individuals riding South Africa’s favourite MTB trails.Toyota SA has a long-standing history of backing esports with the Toyota Gazoo Racing GT Cup. By involving esports as one of the pillars of Toyota Gazoo Racing motorsports activities, Toyota SA is actively working to make motorsports and sports cars more accessible, and enjoyable across generations and around the world.
