The atmosphere was charged with anticipation as the Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa GR Cup reached its penultimate round at Killarney International Raceway in September. The 2024 season has been a battleground of fierce competition, with drivers pushing the limits of Toyota’s high-performance GR Corolla to claim supremacy on South Africa’s racing circuits. While this wasn’t the season’s final race – that honour is reserved for Zwartkops Raceway in October – the excitement at Killarney was palpable.
The Killarney International Raceway hallowed track, with its long straights and technical corners, demanded nothing short of perfection from both driver and machine during Round 6 of the 2024 Toyota Gazoo racing South Africa GR Cup Media Challenge. In this crucible of speed and skill, the best racers of the season would put their mettle to the test. As the engines roared and the tyres squealed under immense pressure, it was clear that this race would not just be about who crossed the finish line first, but who could push their GR Corolla to its absolute limits.
A TRACK FOR THE BRAVE
There’s something about Killarney that brings out the best in competitors. Maybe it’s the iconic Table Mountain standing tall in the backdrop, reminding the racers that they’re in the shadow of greatness. Or perhaps it’s the track’s history of testing the mettle of South Africa’s finest. Regardless, the circuit presents a challenge that dares drivers to flirt with danger while chasing glory.
The Toyota GR Corolla, the true star of the GR Cup, was more than up for the challenge. With its 1.6-litre turbocharged engine delivering an impressive 221 kW and a chassis honed by Toyota’s rally division, the GR Corolla is built to conquer both tarmac and dirt. Its all-wheel-drive system, perfectly matched to the demands of racing, allowed the drivers to push harder than ever, corner after corner, lap after lap. The car’s lightweight yet rigid structure further amplified its performance, giving the racers that razor-thin edge needed to make the difference on race day.
GR CUP MEDIA CHALLENGE
Alongside the Development Academy and Dealer Challenge, the GR Cup has also featured the exciting GR Cup Media Challenge, which sees some of the country’s top motoring journalists get behind the wheel of the potent GR Corolla. These drivers may be more familiar with writing race reports than racing them, but they’ve shown they can handle the pressure of competing in a high-stakes motorsport environment.
For the 2024 season, the GR Cup Media Challenge has been nothing short of captivating. Journalists have showcased their driving prowess while bringing the world of motorsport to life in print and digital formats. It’s a rare fusion of journalistic flair and racing skill, with each round of the GR Cup Media Challenge becoming a spectacle in its own right.
A CHAMPION’S JOURNEY
Sean Nurse (AutoTrader) secured the GR Cup Media Challenge championship in style during the first race of the day at Killarney, despite conceding pole to Hannes Visser (La’t Wiel). Nurse’s consistent performances throughout the season culminated in a well-deserved title. His ability to manage pressure and extract the maximum from his GR Corolla proved invaluable. Meanwhile, Visser held off a hard-charging Alex Shahini (Car), who crossed the line ahead of Kumbi Mtshakazi (Kumbi-M on Cars), with Jaco van der Merwe (The Citizen) and myself also in close pursuit.
While Nurse’s journey to the top has been a racecraft masterclass, each journalist participating in this year’s challenge must be commended for their dedication to the series. Although Nurse may have secured the championship, there were still plenty of thrills to keep the Killarney crowds on their feet.
In particular, my battle with Jaco van der Merwe for fifth place during Race 2 was more than a race down to the wire; it was a thrilling track session where we swapped places no fewer than four times during Race 2, with myself finally beating Van der Merwe to the chequered flag after a miss-shift into turn one and then overshooting corner four’s exit onto the dirt meant disappointment for The Citizen scribe.
LOOKING AHEAD TO ZWARTKOPS
As the dust settles on Killarney’s sun-baked track, the focus now shifts to Zwartkops Raceway, where the final race of the 2024 GR Cup season will take place on 19 October.
This circuit, known for its fast straights and tight hairpins, will present a fresh challenge to the drivers. While Sean Nurse has already claimed the championship, the final race at Zwartkops will still be a battle for individual race glory and a chance for other drivers to end the season on a high note.
Zwartkops promises a showdown between the remaining competitors and the media challengers, with the Media Challenge adding an exciting dynamic to the final race. Fans can expect a close, hard-fought contest as drivers push their GR Corollas to the edge while trying to extract the last bit of performance from their cars on one of the country’s most demanding circuits.
THE FUTURE OF SOUTH AFRICAN MOTORSPORT
Toyota’s Gazoo Racing program has reason to celebrate. The success of the GR Corolla on track is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the engineers and designers behind the car. But more than that, it proves that Toyota’s commitment to blending motorsport DNA into its consumer vehicles is a winning formula. Whether it’s in the hands of seasoned professionals, passionate enthusiasts, or even journalists in the Media Challenge, the GR Corolla continues to push the boundaries of what a high-performance road car can achieve.
For now, the drivers can reflect on their performance at Killarney, but in the back of their minds, the countdown to Zwartkops has already begun. The season may be nearing its conclusion, but the story of the 2024 GR Cup is far from over. In motorsport, as in life, the final chapter is often the most thrilling.
Report by BERNIE HELLBERG JR | Images © TOYOTA GAZOO RACING SOUTH AFRICA
