Latest news with #Variawa
IOL News
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- IOL News
Toyota Gazoo Racing SA's GR Hilux EVOs shine at the 2025 South African Safari Rally
Guy Botterill and Dennis Murphy and Saood Variawa and Francois Cazalet learnt valuable lessons at the 2025 South African Safari Rally. Image: Supplied It was lessons well learnt as the two Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa (TGRSA) GR Hilux EVOs wrapped up the 2025 South African Safari Rally held around the Sun City Resort in the North West Province at the weekend. The event, sponsored by Toyota Gazoo Racing, was the third round of the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC). Wrapping up six days (including the Prologue) of demanding competition, Guy Botterill and Dennis Murphy and Saood Variawa and Francois Cazalet concluded the race with determined performances on the final 111-kilometre special stage around Sun City, bringing home valuable World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) points in the process. Pushing hard The stage covered 222 kilometres, featuring two liaison sections split by a high-speed special run through a mix of black sand, soft gravel, rocky outcrops, and dry savannah. Variawa and Cazalet were first out of the gates, following their Stage four win. Opening the route proved to be a challenge, as expected, and they struggled to maintain their winning pace. 'I gave it everything,' said Variawa. 'I pushed at yesterday's winning pace, but opening the road makes it incredibly difficult. There's just no line to follow, and by the time a few cars are through, the route changes completely. We saw corners become straights just a few cars back.' The young duo finished 18th on Stage five, 7min 31sec behind the leader. Despite the time loss, their pace across the week, including a stage win, underscored their progress and potential at the world level. 'All in all, it was an amazing event,' Variawa added. 'The scenery, the fans, the stages, everything was fantastic. We were fighting with the world's best, and it's clear we're moving in the right direction.' The Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa teams now focus on the upcoming rally in Portugal. Image: Supplied Clean run Teammates Botterill and Murphy were also going hell for leather. After rebounding strongly earlier in the week, they produced another clean run to finish 12th on the final stage, despite facing the complexities of a less-than-ideal road position. 'We had a really successful weekend overall,' said Botterill. 'We managed two 1-2 stage finishes as a team, which was fantastic. The pace is definitely there, we just need to cut out the small mistakes and learn how to better manage the road order strategy in these world-level events. 'Nobody won a stage starting in the top 10 this week. You really want to be starting fifth or sixth every day, but it's hard to get that balance right. The guys who've been doing this for a while know how to play the game. We're learning fast, and we'll come back stronger.' Both TGRSA GR Hilux EVOs completed the event without major mechanical issues. Good showing The team's consistency saw Variawa finish 12th overall, with Botterill just behind in 13th, both gaining valuable experience and contributing to Toyota's Manufacturers' Championship lead. From a W2RC standpoint, Toyota leads the Manufacturers' standings on 311 points, ahead of The Dacia Sandriders (219) and Ford M-Sport (190). In the Drivers' classification, Variawa currently lying 12th edges closer to the top ten, while Botterill in 21st place, adds valuable points to his international campaign. The South African pair of Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings (Toyota GR Hilux EVO) racing for Toyota Gazoo Europe, won the race overall. With the South African round of the W2RC now complete, the focus shifts to the next round in Portugal, where both TGRSA crews will look to build on the experience and pace shown on home soil.
The Citizen
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Toyota Gazoo Racing caps off Safari Rally with a strong finish
In addition to the pair of South African entered GR Hiluxes, overall victory went to the factory Gazoo Racing team of Henk Lategan/Brett Cummings. Saood Variawa and Francois Cazalet completed the first-ever South African Safari Rally in 12th place overall for Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa. Picture: Toyota Gazoo Racing The inaugural South African Safari Rally, round three of the World Rally-Raid Championship, oncluded with the fifth stage on Saturday (24 May), wrapping up six days of racing through some of the country's most punishing terrain. Final push Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa crews Guy Botterill and Dennis Murphy, and Saood Variawa and Francois Cazalet capped the event with a double top 15 finish on the on the final 111 km special stage around Sun City. The stage covered 222 km in total, featuring two liaison sections split by a high-speed special run through a mix of sand, soft gravel, rocky outcrops, and dry savannah. Opening the route after winning the fourth stage proved a tall order for teenager Variawa and his French co-driver Cazalet as they struggled to maintain pace. 'I gave it everything,' said Variawa. 'I pushed at yesterday's winning pace, but opening the road makes it incredibly difficult. There's just no line to follow, and by the time a few cars are through, the route changes completely. We saw corners become straights just a few cars back.' ALSO READ: Toyota Gazoo Racing ends Safari Rally fourth stage on a high The duo finished 18th on Stage 5, seven min 31 sec behind the leader. 'All in all, it was an amazing event,' Variawa added. 'The scenery, the fans, the stages, everything was fantastic. We were fighting with the world's best, and it's clear we're moving in the right direction.' Teammates Botterill and Murphy also rebounding strongly after a tough start to the event. They produced another clean run to finish 12th on the final stage. 'We had a really successful weekend overall,' said Botterill. 'We managed two 1-2 stage finishes as a team, which was fantastic. The pace is definitely there; we just need to cut out the small mistakes and learn how to better manage the road order strategy in these world-level events.' Reflecting on the rally's, Botterill noted: 'Nobody won a stage starting in the top 10 this week. You really want to be starting fifth or sixth every day, but it's hard to get that balance right. The guys who've been doing this for a while know how to play the game. We're learning fast, and we'll come back stronger.' All round success for Toyota Both Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa GR Hilux EVOs completed the event without issues Variawa/Cazalet finishing 12th overall and with Botterill/Murphy 13th. In the overall standings, works Toyota Gazoo Racing team Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings took the victory ahead of the Dacia Sandrider of nine-times world rally champion Sébastien Loeb and Fabian Lurquin, and the second Gazoo Racing Hilux EVO of Brazilian Lucas Moraes and Spanish co-driver Armand Monleon. In the drivers' classification, Variawa edges closer to the top ten, while Botterill adds valuable points to his international campaign. With the South African round complete, the focus shifts to the next round in Portugal on 22-28 September. Overall Results #205 Henk Lategan/Brett Cummings – Toyota Gazoo Racing Hilux DKR EVO #219 Sébastien Loeb/Fabian Lurquin – Dacia Sandrider #203 Lucas Moraes/Armand Monleon – Toyota Gazoo Racing Hilux DKR EVO #277 Gareth Woolridge /Boyd Dreyer – Castrol Neil Woolridge Motorsport Ford Ranger T1+ #225 Carlos Sainz/Lucas Cruz – Ford M-Sport Raptor DKR #204 Seth Quintero/Dennis Zenz – Toyota Gazoo Racing Hilux DKR EVO #227 Nani Roma/Alex Haro – Ford M-Sport Raptor DKR #242 Daniel Schröder/Henry Köhne – PS Laser Racing Volkswagen Amarok #222 Guillaume De Mévius/Xavier Panseri – X-Raid Mini John Cooper Works #200 Nasser Al-Attiyah/Édouard Boulanger – Dacia Sandrider ALSO READ: Stage 3: No let up for Toyota Gazoo Racing on South African Safari
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
IOL News
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- IOL News
Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa excels in the second stage of the 2025 South African Safari Rally
As per Marathon Stage regulations, no external technical support is allowed overnight, requiring crews to service and prepare their vehicles on their own. The event, sponsored by Toyota Gazoo Racing, is the third round of the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC). After the struggles of the first stage on Tuesday, yesterday saw a much improved Marathon second stage for the Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa team in their GR Hilux EVOs at the 2025 South African Safari Rally around Sun City in the North West Province. Stage win Local squads Guy Botterill and Dennis Murphy claimed a commanding stage win, while teammates Saood Variawa and Francois Cazalet followed closely behind in second place. The stage covered 620 kilometres, including a 212 kilometre liaison, a 356 kilometre special stage, and a final 55 kilometre road section into the Marathon 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 on their own ahead of today's Stage three. Stage conditions varied, with fast open grassland sections with deep ruts, patches of sand, turf, and short stretches of tarmac. The lack of defined tracks in many areas made for difficult navigation, particularly in the second half of the route, which cut through long grass and densely vegetated areas. A good day Botterill and Murphy made the most of their favourable road position to set a time of 3hr 12min 36sec, winning the stage by 55 seconds. 'Today was a great day,' said Botterill. 'We benefited a lot from starting further down, but Dennis was great on the notes, and we managed to put it all together. It was really cool, super fast, high-speed stuff. Navigation was 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, so a little bit of cleaning up and we'll be good to go.' Just behind them, Variawa and Cazalet posted their best stage result of the event, finishing second on the day. 'It was a really good day,' said Variawa.
