TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa (TGRSA) is set for the Western Cape this weekend as the team prepares for the Century Property Developments – Century Racing Outeniqua 400. The event, taking place on 28 and 29 August at Louvain Guest Farm in the Upper Langkloof, serves as Round 3 of the 2026 South African Rally-Raid Championship (SARRC) and marks the halfway stage of the season.
With victories in both rounds contested so far, TGRSA arrives with a clean sweep of wins and holds the top two positions in the driver standings. Guy Botterill currently leads the championship on 60 points following his win at last month’s GR Stella 1000 Marathon. He holds a six-point advantage over teammate Saood Variawa, who sits second with 54 points – level with Ford’s Gareth Woolridge. Sa’aad Variawa, gaining experience in the team’s third GR Hilux IMT EVO, occupies sixth place on 32 points heading into the weekend.
Botterill will again navigate with Henry Köhne, the pairing having claimed their first victory together at Stella after leading from the outset. The duo will look to maintain that form as they aim to increase their buffer at the top of the standings.
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Reigning champion Saood Variawa, who opened his title defence with a win at the INGCO Parys 400, continues alongside Charan Moore. The pair showed good pace throughout the marathon before a transfer-section incident set them back, and they will be keen to return to winning ways as the season reaches its midpoint.
Sa’aad Variawa will tackle the Garden Route for the first time, with Spanish navigator Oriol Mena joining him for this round. Mena previously partnered Botterill at the season opener and brings valuable familiarity with the GR Hilux IMT EVO, which should aid the young driver as he continues to accumulate rally-raid kilometres.
TGRSA will also be looking to improve on last year’s visit to the Langkloof, where both crews had to recover from early issues to salvage points. With the team in a stronger position compared to 12 months ago, the aim is for a cleaner run through the weekend.
“To be sitting first and second in the championship at the halfway mark speaks to the durability and reliability of the GR Hilux IMT EVO,” said TGRSA Team Principal Shameer Variawa. “The cars have been pushed hard over tough terrain, and to still be leading on points is a good indication that our preparation, package and people are on the right track. Outeniqua hasn’t always been kind to us, but we go into this round in a solid position and we want to keep building on what we’ve done so far this season.”
Weather could play a role over the weekend. Friday’s Qualifying Race and Stage One are expected to take place in dry, mild conditions, while Saturday’s two stages look set to be cooler and overcast, with the possibility of light rain.
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The Outeniqua 400 gets underway on Friday morning with a 33-kilometre Qualifying Race from Louvain Guest Farm at 09:30, which will determine the starting order for Stage One (91 kilometres) at 13:00. Saturday’s action resumes at 08:30 with Stages Two and Three, each roughly 177 kilometres and covering sections similar to those used in 2025. Race Headquarters and the Designated Service Point will again be based at Louvain Guest Farm, just off the N9 between George and Uniondale, where spectators are welcome to attend the podium ceremonies.
Following the Outeniqua 400, TGRSA will turn its attention to Round 4 of the championship, scheduled for Vryheid in KwaZulu-Natal on 9 and 10 October.
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