Latest news with #SouthAfricanSafari
The Citizen
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
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
The Citizen
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Toyota Gazoo Racing hits back as Safari with double stage podium
Change in fortune for the factory Toyota Hilux crews has seen a gradual return to the overall top 10. After a challenging first day, Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa scored a 1-2 finish on the second stage of the South African Safari Rally. Picture: Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa Stage 2 of the South African Safari Rally brought a major uplift in form for Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa, as both GR Hilux EVO crews finished the marathon stage on the podium. First and second Guy Botterill and Dennis Murphy (#211) claimed the stage win, while teammates, Saood Variawa and Francois Cazalet (#212), followed closely behind in second place. ALSO READ: Day one: South African Safari starts rocky for Toyota Gazoo Racing The stage covered 620 km, consisting of a 212 km liaison, a 356 km special stage and a final 55 km road section into the bivouac near the town of Stella. As per marathon stage regulations, no external technical support is allowed overnight, requiring crews to service and prepare their vehicles entirely on their own ahead of stage 3. A challenging day Conditions varied significantly with fast open grassland sections blending into deep ruts, patches of sand and short stretches of tarmac. The lack of tracks in many areas made for complex navigation, particularly in the second half of the route, which cut through long grass and densely vegetated areas. Botterill and Murphy, determined to rebound from a difficult Stage 1, made the most of their favourable road position to set a time of three hours 12 min 36 sec, winning the stage by 55 seconds. 'Today was a great day,' said Botterill. 'We benefited quite a lot from starting further down but Dennis was great on the notes and we just managed to put it all together. It was really cool, super fast, high-speed stuff. 'Navigation was really tricky, so I think the guys in front suffered a lot, but that was our story yesterday. We capitalised on our position today, pushed really hard and there were no issues with the car'. Behind them, Variawa and Cazalet posted their best stage result of the event to date. 'It was a really good day,' said Variawa. 'Obviously, starting position helped a little bit. We pushed quite a lot. I think we were leading by about a minute and a half at one point, and we continued to increase the gap. 'But unfortunately, in the last 120 km, we suffered engine overheating issues. We went through a lot of bushes and the radiators got clogged up, so we had to back off, let the car cool, then push again. 'We lost a lot of time, but it's a good result for the team with Guy in first and myself in second. Overall, we are super happy with the performance.' Stage 3 forecast With stage 3 set to bring competitors back to Sun City via a 246 km special, followed by a 263 km liaison, the event remains finely poised. Road conditions are expected to mirror those seen today, with dry and dusty surfaces prevailing across the region. Navigation is again expected to be decisive, with minimal marking on the ground and continued pressure on co-drivers to read the terrain accurately from the roadbook. The uptick in fortune means Variawa and Cazalet move up to 12th overall, seven minutes 15 sec behinds the leaders. Botterill and Murphy have now climbed to 14th overall, 14 min 28 sec behind the event leaders. ALSO READ: Toyota Gazoo Racing Hilux pair ready for Mzansi Safari Rally
