Toyota Gazoo Racing ends Safari Rally fourth stage on a high
With one stage left, the factory entered GR Hilux EVO place 12th and 13th in the overall standings.
Teenager Saood Variawa and French co-driver Francois Cazalet on their way to winning stage four of the South African Safari Rally. Picture: Toyota Gazoo Racing
Stage 4 of the South African Safari Rally delivered a day of redemption and reward for Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa, with Saood Variawa and Francois Cazalet claiming a commanding stage win and teammates Guy Botterill and Dennis Murphy (#211) claiming the final step on the podium.
Longest stage done
The 693 km route, the longest of the rally, included a 470 km road section and a 224 km competitive stage around the greater Sun City region.
The looped route took competitors across a mix of fast-flowing bushveld roads, rocky sections, sandy tracks and open savannah.
Despite not feeling 100%, teenager Variawa produced a masterful drive to win his first stage of this year's event.
'We actually had a malfunction with the torque meter, which caused us to lose a lot of power. So, in the last 100 km we pushed the car to the limit, knowing we didn't have full power.
ALSO READ: Stage 3: No let up for Toyota Gazoo Racing on South African Safari
'We managed to hold the lead and I'm super happy – with the team, the car, myself, my navigator – everything played out well today,' said Variawa.
Variawa's time of two hours 09 min 05 sec was enough to secure the stage win by 58 seconds over the X-Raid Mini of Guillaume De Mévius and Xavier Panseri.
For Botterill and Murphy in the second Toyota GR Hilux EVO, stage four brought a further confidence boost.
'We made a few mistakes early on which cost us time, but in the second half of the stage, Dennis and I were absolutely flat-out trying to make up ground. We had no idea where we stood, but I knew we were pushing. To finish third, considering where we were this morning, I'm really pleased.'
One stage left
Their performance saw them cross the line one min 19 sec behind their Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa teammates.
While the individual stage results were cause for celebration, the overall classification remains tightly packed.
Variawa and Cazalet moved up to 12th overall, 14 min 23sec behind the leaders. Botterill and Murphy improved to 13th, 18 min 01 sec adrift.
With one stage remaining, the rally remains wide open for gains, and potentially, heartbreak, as competitors prepare for the final test: stage 5, a 222 km loop around Sun City featuring a 111 km special stage broken into two liaison sections.
ALSO READ: Toyota Gazoo Racing hits back as Safari with double stage podium
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
5 hours ago
- The Citizen
Spain's Yamal primed to ‘prove' himself against ‘legend' Ronaldo
'It's a special game, a final against a great team gives us extra motivation,' Yamal told reporters Spain forward Lamine Yamal during the UEFA Nations League semifinal between Spain and France in Stuttgart, Germany on Thursday. Picture: FRANCK FIFE / AFP Spain starlet Lamine Yamal said Sunday's Nations League final against Portugal would give him the chance to 'prove who I am' after helping his side past France in the semis on Thursday. Spain's magic Yamal Yamal scored twice and was named man of the match in a 5-4 win over the French in Stuttgart on Thursday, sealing progress to this weekend's Nations League final against their Iberian rivals. A late French flourish obscured Spain's dominance, with La Roja cruising at 5-1 before dropping their intensity, allowing France to score three late goals. As they did on their way to winning Euro 2024 in Germany last season, Spain's success was built on the foundation of wingers Yamal and Nico Williams. Williams, who got a goal of his own and set up another, was man of the match in the 2-1 Euro 2024 final win over England. Thursday's victory puts 2021 Nations League winners against Portugal, who won the competition in 2019. 'It's a special game, a final against a great team gives us extra motivation,' Yamal told reporters. 'This is the kind of game I want to play, to prove who I am.' Still just 17, Yamal will face off against Portugal veteran Cristiano Ronaldo, who is 23 years his senior. 'He's a football legend,' Yamal said. 'I, like all the players, have huge respect for Cristiano. 'I will do my job, which is to try to win, and that's it,' he added. 'One of the greats' Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said fans would see 'two super powerful teams' on Sunday, adding 'this could be a World Cup final. 'We're playing against one of the greats: Cristiano Ronaldo. Just his name stands out — I have limitless admiration for him. 'It's really great to see a player at his age to keep playing and be as fit as he is. I admire him very much.' Mikel Merino, another Spanish goalscorer on Thursday, was confident. 'It's not our first final,' he said. 'Munich brings us amazing memories from the European Championship. 'I'm very happy to be in another final is a huge accomplishment and hopefully we can win it again.'
eNCA
17 hours ago
- eNCA
Gauff stops fairytale Boisson run to reach French Open final
Coco Gauff brought a quick end to surprise French hero Lois Boisson's improbable run at Roland Garros on Thursday to set up a final against world number one Aryna Sabalenka. Gauff dominated from the outset on Court Philippe Chatrier and pulled away to a 6-1, 6-2 victory to extinguish the host nation's hopes of a first French Open winner since Mary Pierce in 2000. The 21-year-old Gauff is through to her third Grand Slam singles final. She finished runner-up to Iga Swiatek at Roland Garros three years ago before beating Sabalenka to win the 2023 US Open. "Obviously there's still a lot of work to do, but for now I'll enjoy this one and then prepare for the final tomorrow," she said. For Boisson, 22, it marked a disappointing finish to a remarkable first Grand Slam appearance, a year after missing out because of a serious knee injury. The world number 361 had never played a top-50 opponent before this week. Boisson dumped out two in the top 10 in third-ranked Jessica Pegula and world number six Mirra Andreeva to set up her last-four clash with Gauff. But Gauff proved a hurdle too far for a player who only had one WTA tour-level win before the start of the tournament. Boisson's entrance on court drew huge roars from a crowd filling back up after watching Sabalenka knock out three-time reigning champion Swiatek in the first semi-final. Cheers greeted each of Boisson's returns during the warm-up, but it was Gauff who hit the ground running with a break of serve in the opening game. The American second seed followed a comfortable hold with another break to dampen home spirits as the rain began to pound heavily on the closed roof. Boisson passed up three break points in the fourth game before finally getting on the board after Gauff had raced into a 4-0 lead. Gauff wrapped up the set with little fuss though following another break, subduing a partisan crowd that helped spur Boisson past Andreeva in the quarter-finals. After an exchange of holds to begin the second set, Boisson couldn't capitalise on a break point in the third game as she fired a forehand low into the net. Gauff broke for a 3-1 cushion only to hand the advantage right back the next game. With Boisson struggling for the consistency of earlier rounds, Gauff soon seized control again with her fifth break of the match for a 4-2 edge. Boisson could not produce one last act of defying the odds as Gauff pocketed the final two games to seal a comfortable victory.
TimesLIVE
19 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Gauff ends Boisson's dream run to reach final, Sabalenka dethrones Swiatek
Coco Gauff ended local heroine Lois Boisson's dream run at the French Open with a ruthless 6-1 6-2 victory on Thursday to set up a final clash with top seed Aryna Sabalenka. Laser-focused, the world number two from the US subdued the French wild card and the home crowd to speed through the contest on Court Philippe Chatrier and reach the Roland Garros final for the second time after she lost to Iga Swiatek in 2022. Ranked 361st in the world, Boisson had downed world number three Jessica Pegula and Russia's Mirra Andreeva in the previous rounds, but she looked deflated against Gauff. The 22-year-old will, however, pocket a career-changing €690,000 (R14m) in prize money, while Gauff will have the chance to secure her second Grand Slam title after winning the 2023 US Open. Earlier, world number one Sabalenka battled past four-time champion Iga Swiatek to reach her first French Open final with a 7-6(1) 4-6 6-0 victory that ended the Pole's reign in Paris and snapped her 26-game winning streak in the tournament. The Belarusian's power proved too much for the defending champion, who was looking to become the first female player in the Open era since 1968 to win four consecutive titles in Paris. Swiatek had won the previous three editions along with her maiden crown in 2020 The top seed will now play either France's Lois Boisson, the first player in the Open Era to reach this stage of the French Open as a wild card, or second-seeded American Coco Gauff in Saturday's showcase match. 'Honestly, it feels incredible but I understand the job is not done yet. I'm just thrilled today with this win and the atmosphere,' Sabalenka said. 'She's the toughest opponent, especially on clay, especially at Roland Garros. It was a tough match it was a tricky match but I managed.' Sabalenka, playing her second French open semifinal and seeking her first title in Paris, powered into a 3-0 lead, twice breaking the Pole. She kept attacking her opponent's serve with Swiatek winning just 35% of her points on her second serve. Swiatek, who late last year accepted a one-month doping ban and came into the tournament without a single title win this season, had reached the semifinals dropping just one set in five matches. But she looked completely out of sorts. With seven unforced errors in the first three games she was playing catch-up from the start. The Pole, struggled with her serve and had racked up two double faults by the fifth game. She gradually, however, found her range and precision, countering Sabalenka's raw power with superb ball placement and levelled when her opponent double-faulted on break point. The Belarusian was furious, angrily shouting to her team in the box, before overrunning her opponent in the tiebreak. The pair traded breaks at the start of the second set before Swiatek earned another to level the match. But Sabalenka was not to be denied, breaking the 24-year-old world number five at the start of the third to take control. 'I think the pace from her was super fast,' Swiatek said. 'Especially at the beginning of the match, she played just kind of as hard as possible and pretty risky. So it was just hard to get into any rally.' 'In the third set I feel like we kind of came back to what happened in the first, and she for sure used her chances, and I didn't really keep up what I was doing in the second set.' Sabalenka gave her opponent no chance with her thunderous groundstrokes, powering through the decider as Swiatek ran out of steam. 'It could not be more perfect than that,' Sabalenka said of her third-set performance. 'I'm super proud right now, I'm glad I found my serve [again in the third set].'
