The 2025 GR Cup season will come to a spectacular close this weekend, 24 and 25 October, as South Africa’s premier one-make racing series heads to the legendary Zwartkops Raceway in Gauteng for its seventh and final round of the year. The tight and technical 2.4 km circuit near Pretoria has long been a favourite among drivers and fans alike, and promises an adrenaline-filled finale to a standout year of competition.
The full roster of GR Cup categories will be in action once again, including the GR Cup Media Challenge, the GR Cup Dealer Challenge, and the GR86 Development Academy. While the 2025 titles in all three categories have already been secured, the final round is expected to deliver plenty of fireworks, as pride, performance — and in many cases, redemption — remain on the line.
The action begins with Friday’s practice sessions, followed by qualifying and two feature races on Saturday. Conditions are expected to be clear and warm throughout the weekend, with temperatures forecast to peak in the low thirties — setting the stage for an intense and fast-paced finale.
GR CUP MEDIA CHALLENGE
In the GR Cup Media Challenge, Nabil Abdool (SuperSport) returns to the circuit as the newly crowned 2025 champion. Abdool sealed the title at the previous round in Cape Town despite being bested on track by Kyle Kock (CAR Magazine), who was in dominant form at his home race.
Kock will be eager to end his season on a high at Zwartkops, while Phuti Mpyane (TimesLive), Lawrence Minnie (AutoTrader), Charl Bosch (The Citizen) and Willem van de Putte (IOL) will be looking to wrap up their campaigns with strong finishes. The racing may be pressure-free for the media class, but the fierce rivalries and competitive spirit that defined the season are sure to continue right to the final flag.
GR CUP DEALER CHALLENGE
Mario de Sousa arrives at Zwartkops having already secured the GR Cup Dealer Challenge title, thanks to a season of commanding performances and close-fought battles — most recently at Killarney, where he edged out rival Devon Scott by the narrowest of margins over the two-race average.
With Scott unavailable for the finale due to personal commitments, the spotlight now shifts to contenders like Wener Venter, Theo Brits, Werner Horn, Tiaan Combrink, and the rest of the expanded dealer field who have helped inject depth and drama into the class this year.
As in previous rounds, the Dealer Challenge field will again consist of a mix of GR Corolla and manual GR Yaris machinery — a combination that has delivered plenty of variety and overtaking throughout the season.
86 DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY
In the GR86 Development Academy, Jason Coetzee has been the benchmark all year, and heads to Zwartkops as the undisputed 2025 class champion. Kent Swartz and Khanya Ngwenya remain in the mix for overall podium honours, while Calvin Dias, who joined for the last round, will be aiming to build on a strong debut.
Joining the field for Round 7 are two young Namibian karters, Kobus Reyneke and Kian Fussell, both making their debut in the GR86 tin-top formula. Their addition will inject further excitement into the weekend, as they go head-to-head with South Africa’s most promising young talent.
With the titles decided but bragging rights still up for grabs, the Zwartkops finale is shaping up to be a fitting end to an unforgettable 2025 GR Cup season. The series has once again highlighted the performance and durability of Toyota’s GR range, while providing a competitive platform for media, dealer and developmental drivers to sharpen their skills behind the wheel.
All that remains now is one last push to the chequered flag.
