The 2024 TOYOTA GAZOO Racing SA GR Cup saw a thrilling weekend of racing at the Aldo Scribante Raceway in Gqeberha, with Sean Nurse (AutoTrader) once again proving his dominance in the GR Cup Media Challenge. However, the battles throughout the field in the GR Cup Dealer Challenge and GR86 Development Academy categories provided plenty of excitement for spectators.
GR Cup Media Challenge
Qualifying: Sean Nurse (AutoTrader) continued his dominant form by securing pole position with a time of 1:11.553 around the tricky Aldo Scribante circuit. Alex Shahini (CAR) was close behind, showing impressive pace, and Jaco van der Merwe (Citizen) secured third. Hannes Visser (La’t Wiel) and Kumbi Mtshakazi (Kumbi-M on Cars) rounded out the top five, while guest driver John Thomson (TSAM) qualified in sixth. Bernie Hellberg (Driven) completed the lineup.
Race 1: Race 1 saw Sean Nurse (AutoTrader) take a commanding win with a total time of 9:57.552. Hannes Visser (La’t Wiel) finished second, 20.365 seconds behind, after a spirited drive that saw the TV presenter elbow his way to the front, but never quite catching up with the flying Nurse. Alex Shahini (CAR) completed the podium after an exciting duel with Visser. Jaco van der Merwe (Citizen), Kumbi Mtshakazi (Kumbi-M on Cars), Bernie Hellberg (Driven), and John Thomson (TSAM) rounded out the order.
| Position | Driver | Total Time | Gap |
| 1 | Sean Nurse (AutoTrader) | 9:57.552 | |
| 2 | Hannes Visser (La’t Wiel) | 10:17.917 | +20.365 |
| 3 | Alex Shahini (CAR) | 10:21.963 | +24.411 |
| 4 | Jaco van der Merwe (Citizen) | 10:22.250 | +24.698 |
| 5 | Kumbi Mtshakazi (Kumbi-M on Cars) | 10:22.797 | +25.245 |
| 6 | Bernie Hellberg (Driven) | 10:28.776 | +31.224 |
| 7 | John Thomson (TSAM) | 10:37.189 | +39.637 |
Race 2: In Race 2, Sean Nurse (AutoTrader) once again proved his mettle, crossing the finish line first with a total time of 10:00.069, showing a clean pair of heels to the competition. John Thomson (TSAM) put in an impressive performance to finish second, followed closely by Hannes Visser (La’t Wiel). Alex Shahini (CAR) and Bernie Hellberg (Driven) battled it out for fourth and fifth respectively, with Kumbi Mtshakazi (Kumbi-M on Cars) and Jaco van der Merwe (Citizen) completing the order.
| Position | Driver | Total Time | Gap |
| 1 | Sean Nurse (AutoTrader) | 10:00.069 | |
| 2 | John Thomson (TSAM) | 10:14.162 | +14.093 |
| 3 | Hannes Visser (La’t Wiel) | 10:15.450 | +15.381 |
| 4 | Alex Shahini (CAR) | 10:23.826 | +23.757 |
| 5 | Bernie Hellberg (Driven) | 10:24.314 | +24.245 |
| 6 | Kumbi Mtshakazi (Kumbi-M on Cars) | 10:24.793 | +24.724 |
| 7 | Jaco van der Merwe (Citizen) | 10:25.106 | +25.037 |
GR Cup Dealer Challenge
Qualifying: Somewhat unsurprisingly, it was Devon Scott (serving as guest driver for Rola Motor Group) who set the fastest time in qualifying with 1:11.903, followed by his colleague from the GR Driving Academy, Paul de Vos and veteran racer Mario de Sousa (Motus Toyota). Werner Venter (NMI Toyota Menlyn) and Johann Snyman (Rustenburg Toyota) rounded out the top five.
Race 1: Paul de Vos (GR Driving Academy) took the win in Race 1 with a total time of 10:01.104, closely followed by Devon Scott (Rola Motor Group) and Mario de Sousa (Motus Toyota) – the crossing the finish line less than a second apart. Werner Venter (NMI Toyota Menlyn) and Johann Snyman (Rustenburg Toyota) finished fourth and fifth respectively.
| Position | Driver | Total Time | Gap |
| 1 | Paul de Vos (GR Driving Academy) | 10:01.104 | |
| 2 | Devon Scott (GR Driving Academy) | 10:01.383 | +0.279 |
| 3 | Mario de Sousa (Motus Toyota) | 10:01.907 | +0.803 |
| 4 | Werner Venter (NMI Toyota Menlyn) | 10:16.968 | +15.864 |
| 5 | Johann Snyman (Rustenburg Toyota) | 10:25.811 | +24.707 |
Race 2: In race 2, Devon Scott (Rola Motor Group) hit back to take the win, with a total time of 9:59.045. Paul de Vos (GR Driving Academy) finished second, again followed by Mario de Sousa (Motus Toyota). Werner Venter (NMI Toyota Menlyn) and Johann Snyman (Rustenburg Toyota) completed the top five.
| Position | Driver | Total Time | Gap |
| 1 | Devon Scott (Rola Motor Group) | 9:59.045 | |
| 2 | Paul de Vos (GR Driving Academy) | 10:01.338 | +2.293 |
| 3 | Mario de Sousa (Motus Toyota) | 10:02.071 | +3.026 |
| 4 | Werner Venter (NMI Toyota Menlyn) | 10:11.803 | +12.758 |
| 5 | Johann Snyman (Rustenburg Toyota) | 10:16.819 | +17.774 |
GR86 Development Academy
Qualifying: Dawie van der Merwe has shown his class throughout this season, and was again the fastest man in qualifying, with a time of 1:12.194, followed by Dylan Pragji and Niko Zafiris. Setshaba Mashigo, Ryan Naicker, and Kent Swartz completed the lineup.
Race 1: There were no surprises as Dawie van der Merwe took the win in Race 1 with a total time of 9:48.338. Niko Zafiris and Dylan Pragji finished second and third respectively, after an exciting drive, with Ryan Naicker and Kent Swartz completing the top five. Racing action in the GR86 Development Academy is always intense courtesy of identically prepared Toyota GR86 6AT models.
| Position | Driver | Total Time | Gap |
| 1 | Dawie van der Merwe (GR86) | 9:48.338 | |
| 2 | Niko Zafiris (GR86) | 9:49.333 | +0.995 |
| 3 | Dylan Pragji (GR86) | 9:49.511 | +1.173 |
| 4 | Ryan Naicker (GR86) | 9:53.286 | +4.948 |
| 5 | Kent Swartz (GR86) | 9:53.654 | +5.316 |
Race 2: Dawie van der Merwe took yet another win in Race 2 with a total time of 9:49.752. Niko Zafiris and Dylan Pragji completed the podium, in a carbon copy of Race 1. Kent Swartz and Ryan Naicker finished fourth and fifth respectively.
| Position | Driver | Total Time | Gap |
| 1 | Dawie van der Merwe | 9:49.752 | |
| 2 | Niko Zafiris | 9:50.555 | +0.803 |
| 3 | Dylan Pragji | 9:50.716 | +0.964 |
| 4 | Kent Swartz | 9:52.053 | +2.301 |
| 5 | Ryan Naicker | 9:57.730 | +7.978 |
The next event in the 2024 GR Cup will take place at the East London Grand Prix Circuit on 27 July. This will be the second of the mid-winter visits to the Eastern Cape, before the season heads back to Killarney in the Western Cape; and Zwartkops Raceway in Pretoria, for the end of the season.
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa Acknowledges Its Sponsors
Toyota enjoys a mutually beneficial relationship with Toyota Financial Services, Garmin, Dunlop, Ferodo and Kinto.
Published by: Karabo Sethusha
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