Toyota Gazoo Racing Hilux pair ready for Mzansi Safari Rally
Saood Variawa and Guy Botterill geared up for World Rally-Raid Championship race.
Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa (TGRSA) is returning to international competition as the team takes on Round 3 of the 2025 World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) in the South African Safari Rally which will be based in and around Sun City.
This event not only marks the first African round of the 2025 W2RC season, but it is also the first ever W2RC round to take place in Southern Africa. The Citizen Motoring will be right there in the thick of the action when the chequered flag comes down on Saturday.
TGRSA fields two locally-prepared GR Toyota Hilux EVOs, driven by Saood Variawa and Guy Botterill, respectively. Variawa, partnered by French navigator Francois Cazalet, currently sits 14th in the W2RC drivers' championship with 17 points. Botterill, who raced in this year's Dakar Rally, as well as the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, will be partnered by Dennis Murphy.
ALSO READ: Evo Plus Ford Ranger out to challenge Gazoo Racing Toyota Hilux
Toyota Hilux gets special livery
'We decided to pay homage to the typical South African safari vehicle, with the livery of our cars for this race,' explains TGRSA team principal, Shameer Variawa.
'When you go to the bush, you will find beige-coloured game viewers or ranger support vehicles more often than not. Given that we will be racing in that same terrain this coming week, we felt that it was apt to reflect the African heritage in our liveries. Remember, this is not a bakkie – it's a Hilux!'
In terms of refinements to the vehicle, Variawa says that the GR Toyota Hilux EVO will sport several upgraded components, as well as a refined suspension setup for the race.
'This is terrain that we are very familiar with, and we know how to extract the most from our cars here on home ground.'
Five full stages
The rally begins with a 9km Prologue stage on Monday which will determine the starting order for Stage 1. The event then unfolds over five competitive stages, totalling more than 1 200km of timed specials and covering over 2 600km in total.
Each day presents a fresh test for competitors, both in terms of speed and navigation.
The terrain across the event will include fast gravel roads, rocky outcrops, soft sand, and dry riverbeds -demanding a versatile setup and a strategic mindset. Sections around Thabazimbi, Mafikeng, and Stella will present both high-speed opportunities and navigation traps, while the closing stages will wind back into the rugged bushveld near Sun City.
ALSO READ: Toyota Hilux Legend 55 arriving in July – what we know so far
Committed to rally-raid
Weather forecasts indicate clear skies and mild autumn conditions, with temperatures expected to hover in the mid-20 degrees during the day. These dry conditions should favour high-speed racing, though dust could be a factor, particularly for crews starting deeper in the field.
'To us, partnering with the organisers to bring the South African Safari Rally to life, is an opportunity to underscore our commitment to rally-raid racing, to motorsport as a whole, but also to the many South African Toyota Hilux fans,' says Glenn Crompton, senior vice-president of marketing for Toyota South Africa Motors.
'Beyond our sponsorship of the event, we are looking forward to seeing our newly liveried GR Toyota Hilux EVOs take on the global competition on home soil and we can't wait to see them in action.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
SAFA may dodge sanctions despite Bafana Bafana's player suspension oversight
In a significant development that arose this week after all the airtime arising from their engagement with the Portfolio Committee on Sports, Arts and Culture, the South African Football Association (SAFA) is on the verge of evading sanctions for a serious oversight. At the heart of the discussions was an incident involving Bafana Bafana midfielder Teboho Mokoena, whose suspension oversight could lead to severe repercussions for the association and their FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifying aspirations. However, indications suggest that SAFA is likely to sidestep any penalties. This came after the Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder was fielded in the FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifier against Lesotho even though he was suspended. He picked up two yellow cards in previous qualifiers against Benin and Zimbabwe and was not eligible to play against Lesotho. Bafana, who defeated Lesotho 2-0 in that game, lead Group C with a five-point gap over second-placed rivals Rwanda and Benin. The other group teams are Nigeria (seven points), Lesotho (six) and Zimbabwe (four). CAF's secretariat plays a pivotal role in maintaining the integrity of its tournaments, including the FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifying. They ensure match officials are well-informed about suspended players in meetings with match and team officials before the start of matches. This structured approach allows designated match commissioners and referees to be aware of any players who are barred from participating, thus upholding fairness in competition. In the case of the SA versus Lesotho match, this was not done, and it was not known that Mokoena had incurred an automatic suspension. Members of parliament deplored this disturbing display of administrative oversight and Bafana's management was put through the wringer for failing to execute basic organisational duties. This significant error went unnoticed by both the team and opponents, Lesotho. Two days after this match, the Nigerian Football Federation reportedly alerted Lesotho officials to this critical oversight. Lesotho and Nigeria have not formally announced protests to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA regarding this contentious match. Despite the absence of an official filing, both nations are holding onto a flicker of hope that FIFA might intervene against the South Africans, sparking a potential firestorm in regional football politics. The window for protest submission has closed, as protests filed beyond the stipulated time frame are unlikely to be upheld, however, optimism lingers in both nations. The unresolved issues surrounding recent matches have left stakeholders in Lesotho and Nigeria questioning the integrity of competition and fairness within the African football sphere. A Nigerian-based football website has raised the Mokoena saga with monotonous regularity in the hope that CAF and FIFA will be strung into action. This has ignited fervent discussions in the football community across Africa. If CAF or FIFA intervened, it would affect the log positions of Nigeria, Lesotho, and South Africa. With only four rounds left in the qualifying matches, the possibility of FIFA's intervention has raised eyebrows as teams vie for a coveted spot in the 2026 World Cup. Changes in Nigeria and Lesotho's positions could emerge if SAFA is punished and this potential turn of events could drastically alter the landscape of the Group C World Cup qualifying rounds. Historically, FIFA has not shied away from taking stringent measures against teams that breach its rules, even in cases where there has not been an official complaint or protest lodged.
IOL News
6 hours ago
- IOL News
SAFA may dodge sanctions despite Bafana Bafana's player suspension oversight
Teboho Mokoena's selection controversy haunts Bafana Bafana South Africa may escape sanction over the fielding of the suspended Teboho Mokoena as Lesotho missed the 24-hour deadline to report the matter to the match commissioner or CAF. | BackpagePix In a significant development that arose this week after all the airtime arising from their engagement with the Portfolio Committee on Sports, Arts and Culture, the South African Football Association (SAFA) is on the verge of evading sanctions for a serious oversight. At the heart of the discussions was an incident involving Bafana Bafana midfielder Teboho Mokoena, whose suspension oversight could lead to severe repercussions for the association and their FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifying aspirations. However, indications suggest that SAFA is likely to sidestep any penalties. This came after the Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder was fielded in the FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifier against Lesotho even though he was suspended. He picked up two yellow cards in previous qualifiers against Benin and Zimbabwe and was not eligible to play against Lesotho. Bafana, who defeated Lesotho 2-0 in that game, lead Group C with a five-point gap over second-placed rivals Rwanda and Benin. The other group teams are Nigeria (seven points), Lesotho (six) and Zimbabwe (four). CAF's secretariat plays a pivotal role in maintaining the integrity of its tournaments, including the FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifying. They ensure match officials are well-informed about suspended players in meetings with match and team officials before the start of matches. This structured approach allows designated match commissioners and referees to be aware of any players who are barred from participating, thus upholding fairness in competition. In the case of the SA versus Lesotho match, this was not done, and it was not known that Mokoena had incurred an automatic suspension. Members of parliament deplored this disturbing display of administrative oversight and Bafana's management was put through the wringer for failing to execute basic organisational duties. This significant error went unnoticed by both the team and opponents, Lesotho. Two days after this match, the Nigerian Football Federation reportedly alerted Lesotho officials to this critical oversight. Lesotho and Nigeria have not formally announced protests to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA regarding this contentious match. Despite the absence of an official filing, both nations are holding onto a flicker of hope that FIFA might intervene against the South Africans, sparking a potential firestorm in regional football politics. The window for protest submission has closed, as protests filed beyond the stipulated time frame are unlikely to be upheld, however, optimism lingers in both nations. The unresolved issues surrounding recent matches have left stakeholders in Lesotho and Nigeria questioning the integrity of competition and fairness within the African football sphere. A Nigerian-based football website has raised the Mokoena saga with monotonous regularity in the hope that CAF and FIFA will be strung into action. This has ignited fervent discussions in the football community across Africa. If CAF or FIFA intervened, it would affect the log positions of Nigeria, Lesotho, and South Africa. With only four rounds left in the qualifying matches, the possibility of FIFA's intervention has raised eyebrows as teams vie for a coveted spot in the 2026 World Cup. Changes in Nigeria and Lesotho's positions could emerge if SAFA is punished and this potential turn of events could drastically alter the landscape of the Group C World Cup qualifying rounds. Historically, FIFA has not shied away from taking stringent measures against teams that breach its rules, even in cases where there has not been an official complaint or protest lodged.
The South African
6 hours ago
- The South African
Leaked: New Sundowns kit for the FIFA Club World Cup
We're a week away from the reimagined FIFA Club World Cup. Mamelodi Sundowns will be at the heart of it all. How did Sundowns claim a place? It was made possible through FIFA's ranking pathway, which rewards consistent performance in continental competitions. Over the past four years, Sundowns have consistently made the CAF Champions League quarterfinals, securing the much-needed points. This record placed them among the highest-ranked African clubs, sealing one of the four African places for the expanded 32-team Club World Cup. Kaizer Chiefs to have a new number 6 and number 7 The new Mamelodi Sundowns leaked kit by Puma for the FIFA Club World Cup. Images: Footy Headlines Kaizer Chiefs warned on signing Sipho Mbule Ahead of the event kickoff, the world's number one leaked kits website, Footy Headlines, have posted the expected new kit on the internet. 'Collaboration: Puma and KidSuper have collaborated to create a unique and artistic jersey for Mamelodi Sundowns for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup,' Footy Headlines said. 'Design: The jersey features a bright yellow base with a large, artistic graphic on the front depicting an abstract landscape with a bright sun. 'Release Date: The Puma x KidSuper Mamelodi Sundowns 2025 FIFA Club World Cup kit is scheduled to be officially launched on Tuesday, June 10th,' the note concluded. Kabo Yellow have been drawn in Group F alongside South Korea's Ulsan HD FC, German giants Borussia Dortmund, and Brazilian powerhouse Fluminense. Wednesday, 18 June: Ulsan vs Sundowns at 00:00 from the Inter & Co Stadium, Orlando, USA. Saturday, 21 June: Sundowns vs Dortmund at 18:00 from the QTL Stadium, Cincinnati, USA. Wednesday, 25 June: Sundowns vs Fluminese at 21:00 from the Hard Rock Stadium, Florida, USA. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
