GR CUP EXPANDS FOR THIS WEEKEND'S SECOND ROUND AT KYALAMI

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing SA's popular GR Cup will grow even bigger this weekend, at the second round of the 2024 season, thanks to the addition of five dealer-entered GR Yaris joining the fray. Each race will now consist of three categories, with six of South Africa's leading motoring writers headlining the event in the latest GR Corolla.

They will be joined on-track by the GR 86 drivers who take part in the GR 86 Development Academy, where former GR Cup winner, Setshaba Mashigo, now also competes. Finally, a host of dealer-entered GR Yaris will complete the lineup, potentially boosting the number of cars on track during each race to 17.

The opening round of the season saw AutoTrader's Sean Nurse dominate proceedings, as he set poll position and took victory in both races. La't Wiel's Hannes Visser ran a close second all round. Alex Shahini (CAR) was next-best on the opening weekend, though he was kept honest throughout by Driven's Bernie Hellberg. Jaco van der Merwe (Citizen) and Kumbi Mtshakazi (Kumbi-M on Cars) completed the lineup, and will be hoping to get into the midst of the action at Round 2.

Thanks to his solid start, Nurse is on 14 points, four points clear of Visser, who in turn leads Shahini by 2 points.

GR 86 Development Academy

Setshaba Mashigo, who won the GR Cup in 2023, is back in action this year as part of the GR86 Development Academy. His campaign started with a solid performance in Cape Town, though the Johannesburg-based racer will be hoping for an even better weekend at Kyalami. As it stands, it is Dawie van der Merwe who leads the GR 86 Class at present, on 14 points. Mashigo is tied with Niko Zafiris for second place, both of them on 9 points.

With the addition of the GR Yaris drivers to the overall GR Cup grid, this weekend's racing promised to be extremely exciting. The action gets under way with practice on Thursday, qualifying on Friday, and two races on Saturday. All of this takes place at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit in Gauteng, which is arguably South Africa's most prestigious race circuit.

ENDS

GR CUP STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 1

GR 86 DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 1

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa Acknowledges Its Sponsors

Toyota enjoys a mutually beneficial relationship with Toyota Financial Services, Garmin, Dunlop, Ferodo and Kinto.