Dawie van der Merwe made an impressive debut in the 2025 South African Touring Cars SupaCup Championship, a journey made possible by clinching the 2024 GR86 title in the Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa GR Cup. This victory earned him a fully backed seat in the Toyota Starlet, marking his entry into the prestigious SupaCup series.
Despite having limited testing time before the season opener, Dawie and his team, Fast Developments, worked relentlessly to prepare the car for the highly competitive SupaCup class. Their hard work paid off as Dawie consistently improved throughout the Friday practice sessions. By Saturday morning’s qualifying, he was able to clock the sixth quickest time, positioning the sole Toyota entry well in a fiercely competitive grid dominated by the VW SupaPolos. In only its second competition season, the Toyota Starlet demonstrated its potential and proved that Dawie’s talent and resolve could see him climb the ladder of success.
Race 1 saw Dawie maintain his starting position, showcasing his skill and strategic approach to the race. Despite the challenges of battling against some of the top contenders, Dawie finished strongly and kept his place in the chequered flag. Race 2 was even more impressive as Dawie continued to improve, pushing harder and securing a respectable fourth-place finish, just shy of a podium. It was a solid result for the Nelspruit businessman, who showed that his GR86 success was no fluke.
Reflecting on his debut, Dawie said, “This is just the beginning. It’s been a fantastic experience to step up to the SupaCup, and while the competition is tough, I know we have what it takes to keep improving. Thanks to Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa and OMP for their unwavering support and to Fast Developments for providing a fast and reliable car. We are only going to get stronger from here.”
As the series moves on to Round 2 at the iconic Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit in Johannesburg, Dawie remains confident that he can continue his upward momentum and fight for even better results. A special thank you goes out to Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa, OMP, and Fast Developments for their incredible support in making this debut possible.
Published by: Motorsport Fanatix
Picture Caption: Dawie van der Merwe
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