The 2025 South African Touring Car Championship (SATC) resumes this weekend as the series heads to the Eastern Cape for Round 3, set to unfold at Gqeberha’s Aldo Scribante Circuit. Following an impressive performance at Kyalami in Round 2, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa (TGRSA) seeks to capitalise on its recent success as the championship gathers pace.
The team will once again deploy its three SATC entries: GR Corolla race cars driven by Michael van Rooyen, Saood Variawa and Nathi Msimanga. Dawie van der Merwe returns to the SupaCup class in the SupaStarlet, which continues to demonstrate progress.
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Van Rooyen currently tops the SATC standings after two rounds, bolstered by consistent results and a significant points haul at Kyalami. Team-mate Saood Variawa, who joined the championship in Round 2, holds fifth place with 24 points following a race victory. Nathi Msimanga, also debuting this season in Round 2, has accumulated 10 points.
In the SupaCup, Van der Merwe sits fourth, 45 points behind the leader. After two competitive outings at Kyalami, the driver aims to reduce the gap at a circuit he has prior experience with.
The Aldo Scribante Circuit spans 2,4 kilometres and features eight corners, blending a fast straight with a technical infield section. This mix of high-speed and precision-demanding segments challenges both driver skill and team strategy.
Forecasts predict favourable conditions, with mild temperatures and largely clear skies expected during Saturday’s race programme.
GR Cup Joins the Action
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Toyota South Africa’s GR Cup, a one-make series, will also hold its third round at Aldo Scribante on Saturday, 10 May. Friday will focus on practice sessions, followed by qualifying and two races on Saturday.
A key update for Round 3 is the debut of the automatic GR Yaris in the GR Cup Media Challenge, replacing the manual variant used previously. The new model features a 1,6-litre turbo-charged three-cylinder engine delivering 215 kW and 390 Nm of torque — among the highest outputs in its class. Paired with an 8-speed automatic gearbox, it accelerates from 0–100 km/h in 5,5 seconds, with a top speed of 230 km/h. This shift is expected to influence driving tactics in the Media Challenge for the remainder of the season.
Dealer Challenge entrants will continue racing the GR Corolla, unchanged since the season’s start, while the GR86 Development Academy cars remain unmodified.
The Aldo Scribante Raceway, a 2,48-kilometre layout, combines tight corners with rapid straights. Its flat profile demands precise control but rewards bold manoeuvres through flowing sections. Weather is forecast to be dry and sunny, with mild temperatures ideal for competitors and spectators.
Nabil Abdool (SuperSport) leads with a maximum 28 points from two rounds. Kyle Kock (CAR Magazine) follows with 20 points, while Phuti Mpyane (TimesLive) holds third on 16. With 14 points available this weekend, the battle for positions behind Abdool remains tightly contested.
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