The 2024 Toyota Gazoo Racing SA GR Cup wrapped up in a blaze of excitement at Zwartkops International Raceway this October, with each of the three racing categories delivering edge-of-your-seat action. And in the heat of it all, I managed to steer the Driven Number 7 GR Corolla to an impressive second and third place in the Media Challenge, marking a thrilling end to an unforgettable season.
There’s nothing quite like a good surprise. As I prepped for the final round of the GR Cup at Zwartkops, I thought the season was all but over for me. Loyal fans will remember the carnage that befell Driven’s Number 7 GR Corolla back in Round 5 at East London – a race incident that left my beloved ride in tatters. I figured that was the final chapter for my trusty companion on this motorsport journey.
But then, in classic Toyota Gazoo Racing SA style, the engineering wizards at Fast Developments pulled off the ultimate comeback. The Corolla was brought back to life, practically rebuilt from the ground up, and ready to give it one last push at Zwartkops. And push it did – earning me a solid second and third place in the Media Challenge on race day.
Though the titles for the GR Cup Media Challenge, Dealer Challenge, and GR86 Development Academy had already been claimed, the final showdown was all about pride, podium finishes, and ending the season on a high. It was my first season as an official Toyota factory driver, even if it was for a brief, but glorious, stint.
GR CUP MEDIA CHALLENGE (GR COROLLA)
Sean Nurse (AutoTrader) once again demonstrated his prowess in the GR Cup Media Challenge, snatching pole position. Hot on his heels were Hannes Visser (La’t Wiel) and Alex Shahini (Car), with me, Jaco van der Merwe (Citizen), and Kumbi Mtshakazi (Kumbi-M on Cars) rounding out the field.
Despite some shaky practice times that saw Van der Merwe consistently ahead of me, qualifying shuffled things around. A slip-up from Van der Merwe gave me the edge, beating him by just 0.1 seconds to earn a better spot on the grid.
In Race 1, Nurse cruised to victory as expected, but I managed to surprise even myself by claiming second place in the media field. Van der Merwe and Mtshakazi fought a hard battle for third, with Van der Merwe ultimately securing the position. Meanwhile, an intense scrap between Visser and me through turns 5 and 6 ended in Visser suffering from overheating issues, leaving him in fifth. Shahini faced similar struggles and landed in sixth.
Race 2 played out with a familiar story: Nurse took the win again, cementing his dominance in the 2024 season. Van der Merwe grabbed second place, while I settled for third. Mtshakazi held steady for fourth, with Shahini and Visser rounding out the pack.
GR CUP DEALER CHALLENGE (GR YARIS)
Over in the Dealer Challenge, Theo Brits (NMI Toyota Menlyn) set the pace by claiming pole with a time of 1:13.598, ahead of Mario de Sousa (Motus Toyota) and Paul de Vos (GR Driving Academy). Werner Venter and Marius Claassen completed the lineup.
Race 1 was a tight battle, with Brits taking the win over de Vos and de Sousa. Venter came in fourth, while Claassen wrapped things up in fifth.
In Race 2, de Vos flipped the script, claiming victory ahead of de Sousa, with Brits in third. Venter and Claassen once again completed the standings.
GR86 DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY
The GR86 Development Academy was all about Dawie van der Merwe, who continued his winning streak by taking pole position ahead of Niko Zafiris and Setshaba Mashigo. Ryan Naicker and Dylan Pragji were hot on their heels, setting the stage for a gripping finale.
Race 1 saw Van der Merwe cement his dominance, taking the win ahead of Zafiris and Naicker. Pragji and Mashigo followed in fourth and fifth, respectively.
Race 2 was more of the same, with Van der Merwe securing another victory, putting a perfect cap on his season. Zafiris took second place, while Pragji rounded out the podium in third.
With the dust settled at Zwartkops, the 2024 Toyota Gazoo Racing SA GR Cup season came to a thrilling close. Despite the scorching race-day conditions, the drivers kept their cool and brought their GR steeds home safe. As the season heads into its off-season, I can’t help but reflect on what has been one of the most electrifying years of my life. This experience has reignited my passion for motorsport and deepened my admiration for the engineering brilliance that Toyota’s GR machines represent.
A big thank you to Toyota Financial Services, Garmin, Dunlop, Ferodo, Kinto, and Netstar for making this season possible. Driven couldn’t have done it without you!
Report by BERNIE HELLBERG JR | Images © TOYOTA GAZOO RACING SOUTH AFRICA
