TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa (TGRSA) will return to action this weekend as the 2025 South African Rally-Raid Championship (SARRC) reaches its halfway mark with a brand-new addition to the calendar: the Outeniqua 400, set in the breathtaking Langkloof Valley of the Western Cape. Taking place on 19 and 20 September, this event will be based at Louvain Guest Farm near Uniondale, offering competitors a spectacular new route framed by the Kammanassie, Kouga and Outeniqua mountain ranges.
With the championship finely poised, TGRSA arrives in the Garden Route in a strong position. Saood Variawa and French co-driver Francois Cazalet lead the overall standings by 15 points, while teammates Guy Botterill and Oriol Mena lie in third place, just three points adrift of second. Both crews will contest the event in the latest evolution of the GR Hilux IMT EVO, which has already proven its pace and reliability in the opening rounds of the season.
The Outeniqua 400 is set to be one of the most scenic and technically varied races in recent memory. The Falken Wild Peak Prologue, 38 kilometres in length, will open proceedings on Friday morning, followed by Stage One (84 km) later that day. Saturday will see crews take on two loops of 178 km each, bringing the total competitive distance to nearly 480 km.
Route Director Evan Hutchison has promised competitors “a unique variation of terrain” including fast, open lowlands, rugged mountain passes, river crossings, historic ox-wagon trails dating back to the 1700s, and challenging game farm-style tracks. While much of the course has been graded to accommodate the wide-track Ultimate T1+ cars, the mix of surfaces — from gravel to grass, rock and sand — is expected to test crews to the limit.
For TGRSA, the goal is clear: consolidate their advantage in the championship while maximising points on an all-new playing field. For Variawa and Cazalet, consistency and a clean run could strengthen their grip on the standings; Botterill and Mena, meanwhile, will be targeting a big result to boost their title ambitions.
With the Langkloof’s dramatic scenery as a backdrop, and a route hailed by the organisers as perhaps “the most challenging and enjoyable” yet, the Outeniqua 400 promises to deliver two days of exhilarating racing. Fans will be able to follow the action from designated vantage points along the route, while live tracking will once again be available through the free RallySafe App on iOS and Android.
