TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa's (TGRSA) National Rally Championship (NRC) team showed their tenacity at Billy te Water Rally in Secunda, which represented Rounds 3 and 4 of the 2024 NRC season, scoring valuable points despite challenges and setbacks.
Day one saw Jono van Wyk and his co-driver Nico Swartz roll their Class NRC1 Toyota Starlet, resulting in a late night for the team as they worked tirelessly to get the car ready for the following day. On the same day, Mandla Mdakane and his co-driver Kes Naidoo delivered a solid performance, finishing in fourth place in Class NRC1. Although they experienced a throttle issue, it did not significantly impact their overall position.
Day two saw the team’s hard work pay off as they managed to repair Jono's car in time for the restart of the rally. Jono and Nico posted competitive times throughout the day, winning Stage 5 outright - a power performance despite the previous day's setback. Unfortunately, they encountered a damper issue, likely related to the previous day's roll, but still managed to finish the event. Mandla and Kes also performed admirably, securing a third-place finish on the second day.
Reflecting on the weekend, Guy Botterill, TGRSA's Rally Manager, said, "We are very pleased that we didn't really have the mechanical issues that we've had in the past, so I think we're making progress with the technical aspects of the rally Starlet. Both cars finished, both cars are in parc ferme at the end of the day, and that's a good thing for the team."
The Billy te Water Rally in Secunda highlighted the improved reliability of the TGRSA cars, underscoring the teams progress and dedication to overcoming past challenges and moving forward with confidence.
The next round of the SANRC is the Algoa Rally, which will take place on 5-6 July 2024 in the area around Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape. TGRSA will be aiming for a strong performance in Rounds 5 and 6 of the 2024 championship, which has traditionally been one of the toughest events on the calendar.
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa Acknowledges Its Sponsors
Toyota enjoys a mutually beneficial relationship with Toyota Financial Services, Innovation Group Services and Kinto.