TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa (TGRSA) returns to action this weekend as the 2026 South African National Rally Championship resumes with the inaugural GR Legends Rally, a new addition to the national calendar and an event proudly sponsored by TGRSA.
Based at Legends Adventure Farm on the outskirts of Tshwane, the rally joins the championship as Round 4 following the postponement of the Gqeberha event due to severe flooding in the Eastern Cape. The service park will remain at the venue throughout the weekend, creating a unique festival atmosphere where fans can get close to the cars, crews and action.
TGRSA will once again field its Toyota GR Yaris for motoring journalist Mark Jones and navigator Kes Naidoo. The rally marks only the crew’s third event together and Jones’ second outing on gravel, following a successful debut on the loose surface at the Swartland Rally earlier this season.
“The Swartland Rally taught us an enormous amount,” said Jones ahead of the event. “Every stage we became a little quicker and a little more confident. Rallying is a completely different discipline to circuit racing, and I’m looking forward to taking what we learned there into this weekend.”
Since the previous event, the team has continued to refine the GR Yaris, with particular attention paid to the suspension setup as development of the bespoke rally package continues. The remainder of the car, including its sequential gearbox and drivetrain, has performed well, allowing the team to focus on improving handling and durability as the programme matures.
Although the GR Legends Rally is a completely new event, Jones believes that unfamiliarity with the stages could work in the team’s favour.
“It’s a new rally for everybody, so we’re all starting on a level playing field,” he explained. “From what I’ve seen, the stages look fast and flowing with good gravel roads, so it’s going to be another big learning experience. Our objective remains exactly the same: keep learning, bring the car home and, if we can collect some more championship points along the way, that’s a bonus.”
The crew currently occupies a strong position in the NRC2 standings after consistently finishing each event this season, providing a solid platform on which to continue building.
Weather conditions are expected to be ideal for rallying, with clear skies forecast throughout the weekend. Temperatures are expected to range from around 5°C in the early mornings to approximately 20°C during the day, while the dry conditions should provide competitors with consistent grip on the gravel stages.
With Toyota guests and rally fans expected in large numbers for the inaugural GR Legends Rally, TGRSA is looking forward to an exciting weekend that combines close competition with a celebration of South African rallying.
