Latest news with #GuyBotterill
The Citizen
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Locally manufactured Hilux wins inaugural SA Safari Rally
Serving as round three to the 2025 World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC), the SA Safari Rally concluded after six days of competition through some of Mzansi's highveld terrain, just outside of Sun City in the North West Province. The rally featured five stages, including the opening prologue and it covered multiple road surfaces and landscapes, dominated by dry savannah with some black sand and soft gravel inbetween. The final stage encompassed a total of 222 kilometres, with a 111 km high-speed special stage around Sun City. TGRSA drivers Guy Botterill and Dennis Murphy finishing 12th on the final stage and securing 13th overall. Saood Variawa and Francois Cazalet, managed a win on Stage 4 but faced the challenge of opening the route on Stage 5, finishing 18th for the day and 12th overall. Gazoo Racing added that both crews contributed valuable points to Toyota's lead in the Manufacturers' Championship. Related: Nissan's Rosslyn Plant Risks Closure Amidst Global Restructuring Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings clinched the overall victory in the car category with their Toyota Gazoo Europe Hilux T1+. In the motorcycle division, Daniel Sanders of Red Bull KTM secured his fourth consecutive W2RC victory, extending his lead in the championship standings. Related: All-New Honda Amaze Lands in SA – Pricing and Spec With the South African round concluded, the W2RC now shifts focus to the next event in Portugal, where TGRSA aims to build on their home soil experiences and continue their pursuit of championship success. 2025 SA Safari Rally W2RC Round 3 Standings H. Lategan / B. Cummings (#205) – Toyota Gazoo Racing: 12h10m42s S. Loeb / F. Lurquin (#219) – The Dacia Sandriders: +01m39s L. Moraes / A. Monleon (#203) – Toyota Gazoo Racing: +02m55s G. Woolridge / B. Dreyer (#277) – Neil Woolridge Motorsport: +04m48s C. Sainz / L. Cruz (#225) – Ford M-Sport: +05m15s S. Quintero / D. Zenz (#204) – Toyota Gazoo Racing: +06m19s N. Roma / A. Haro (#227) – Ford M-Sport: +06m45s D. Schröder / H. Köhne (#242) – PS Laser Racing: +09m04s G. De Mevius / X. Panseri (#222) – X-Raid Mini JCW: +11m44s N. Al-Attiyah / E. Boulanger (#200) – The Dacia Sandriders: +11m48s Click here and browse thousands of new and used vehicles here with CARmag! The post Locally Manufactured Hilux Wins Inaugural SA Safari Rally appeared first on CAR Magazine.
IOL News
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- IOL News
Navigational hurdles challenge Toyota Gazoo Racing SA in intense third stage of South African Safari Rally
The third day of the 2025 South African Safari Rally presented another demanding test of navigation and endurance. The event, sponsored by Toyota Gazoo Racing, is the third round of the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC). After a cold night in the Marathon bivouac outside the Town of Stella, the Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa (TGRSA) teams had a tough day on the third and Marathon stage of the 2025 South African Safari Rally around Sun City in the North West Province. Demanding day The day presented another demanding test of navigation and endurance, with both crews working hard to overcome the challenge of starting near the front of the field. The stage covered 518 kilometres in total, with a 246 kilometre competitive section, preceded by a nine kilometre liaison, and followed by a 263 kilometre road section. Terrain conditions were as tricky as any seen so far in the rally, with vast grasslands, soft sand, rocky ridges, and an absence of clearly defined tracks, especially in the early parts of the route. For the crews tasked with opening the road, the difficulty was compounded by the low morning sun and limited reference points in the open veld. Stress Guy Botterill and Dennis Murphy, fresh off their win on Stage two, their first ever in the World Rally-Raid Championship, were first into the special on Stage three. Despite the navigational stress of opening the route, the pair kept things tidy and pushed through the toughest terrain with a clean run. 'Today was always going to be tough,' said Botterill. 'At the driver briefing, we were warned that the navigation would be even harder than Wednesday, and it definitely was. I think we did a fantastic job today. 'Although our times don't show it, I actually think today's drive was better than yesterday's. We drove close to 100 kilometres with no road at all, which was tricky to navigate. Dennis did a great job, no punctures, and we kept it all clean and tidy.' The pair finished the stage in 18th place, 10min 10sec off the fastest time that saw them maintain 15th position in the overall standings, 20min 25sec off the rally lead.
The Citizen
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Stage 3: No let up for Toyota Gazoo Racing on South African Safari
With two stages left, the factory supported pair of GR Hilux EVOs completed the third stage with no defects. Toyota Gazoo Racing kept up the pace on another difficult stage of the inaugural South African Safari Rally. Picture: Toyota Gazoo Racing Stage 3 of the South African Safari Rally saw the marathon stage come to a close, as crews returned to rally headquarters at Sun City following two days of intense action without technical assistance. For Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa, the day presented another demanding test of navigation and endurance. Another tough stage The stage covered 518 km, with a 246 km over competitive racing, preceded by a nine kilometre liaison, and a 263 km road section. ALSO READ: Toyota Gazoo Racing hits back as Safari with double stage podium Conditions on the route were as tricky, featuring vast grasslands, soft sand, rocky ridges, and an absence of clearly defined tracks in some instances. For the crews tasked with opening the road, the difficulty was compounded by the low morning sun and limited reference points in the open veld. Reactions Guy Botterill and Dennis Murphy were first into the stage after winning the previous leg. Despite the navigational burden of opening the route, the pair kept things tidy and finished with a clean run. 'Today was always going to be tough,' said Botterill. 'At the driver briefing last night we were warned that the navigation would be even harder than yesterday, and it definitely was. 'I think we did a fantastic job. Although our times don't show it, I actually think today's drive was better than yesterday's. We drove close to 100 kilometres with no road at all – very, very tricky to navigate. Dennis did a great job, no punctures, and we kept it all clean and tidy'. They finished the stage in 18th place, 10 min 10sec off the fastest time. Overall, the #211 GR Hilux EVO maintains 15th place, 20 min 25 sec off the rally lead. Saood Variawa and Francois Cazalet also faced a stern test. Having started second on the road, the young crew struggled with fatigue following a freezing night in the bivouac and found the terrain particularly taxing. 'Today wasn't the best of days,' said Variawa. 'I think I got a bit sick after the cold night at Marathon camp. We had a rough day, picked up a puncture, got lost a bit. We were overtaking and being overtaken by the same car a few times. But we're still in the race and holding on'. Despite this, the #212 GR Hilux EVO crossed the line 22nd on the stage, 15 min 04 sec down. The crew now sit 14th in the general classification, 18 min 06 sec off the overall lead. Two stages left As it stands after three stages, Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa remains focused on consolidating their position, while continuing to climb the leaderboard. ALSO READ: Stage 1: South African Safari starts rocky for Toyota Gazoo Racing
IOL News
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- IOL News
Tough start for Toyota Gazoo Racing in the 2025 South African Safari Rally
It was a tough stage for Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa (TGRSA) in the 2025 South African Safari Rally. The event, sponsored by Toyota Gazoo Racing, is the third round of the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) and brings together the world's best off-road racers for the first time in Southern Africa. It was a tough outing for Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa (TGRSA) in the 557 kilometre first stage of the 2025 South African Safari Rally around Sun City in the North West Province. It followed a strong showing in the nine-kilometre Prologue, where Guy Botterill and Dennis Murphy posted the second-fastest time overall, just one second off the leaders. Saood Variawa and co-driver Francois Cazalet, meanwhile, initially set the fastest time on the prologue, but a jump-start penalty dropped them down the order, and they started down in the field, 56 seconds behind the fastest crew. Stage one featured 262 kilometres of competitive racing and 295 kilometres of liaison sections, looping westward from Sun City before returning to the bivouac. The route had dry conditions, temperatures in the high 20s, and mixed surfaces ranging from dry, dusty tracks to isolated muddy patches. Unraveled For Botterill and Murphy, what began as a promising day unravelled as navigational difficulties set in. 'It was a tricky stage for us,' Botterill explained. 'The car was really good - we just struggled a bit with navigation, and that basically sums up the day.' The pair also received a time penalty for missing a waypoint, ultimately finishing the stage in 15th place, 10min 07sec off the lead. Reflecting on the difference between local and international rally-raid formats, Botterhill said: 'Navigation is very different to what we're used to in South Africa. Here, it's all roadbook-based with no external markers. "When you make a mistake, it's hard to recover. That made today particularly tricky.'
The Citizen
18-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
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.'
