Due to a mid-season revision, we won't be heading to East London Grand Prix Circuit as originally planned; instead, we'll be heading right back to Aldo Scribante Raceway. An interesting revision, but one that builds directly on what's already been experienced. The only other thing that could shake things up potentially is the extreme weather conditions being experienced this week, thanks to the El Niño climate pattern. Cold and wet appear to be the name of the game here.
Related: GR Cup Round 4 - Post Race Garage Talk
Learnings from the last round
Aldo Scribante is rather abrasive on your tyres, and as the laps go on, tyre wear is pretty significant. Our front tyres were replaced with brand-new units, whilst the rears were fitted with the older front pair. This made the vehicle want to rotate more, but understeer needed to be managed as the weekend went on. I'm not yet sure what sort of setup we'll be running.
As far as negotiating the circuit goes, Aldo Scribante is lovely to string together and find a flow. Once you get it right, you can be fairly quick. Given the potential weather, though, and in one of our previous practice sessions, the track can get quite slippery, which will require a different approach. The GR Corolla is more than competent in these sorts of conditions, though, as it is rally-inspired.
It will be interesting to see what my competitors will have cooking up.
Unfortunately, it seems that due to the accident I had in Round 1, the gremlins may still be loitering around. I'm hoping they're kicked out for good this time and I can actually clinch a podium this time round. Lady Luck, please be kind.
Current Standings
| Position | Driver (Publication) | Points |
| 1 | Nabil Abdool (SuperSport) | 56 |
| 2 | Craig Nicholson (News24) | 39 |
| 3 | Justin Ford (ENCA) | 21 |
| 4 | Kumbi Mtshakazi / Brandon Jacobs (Khulekani On Wheels) | 19 |
| 5 | Tayedza Mbiri (AutoTrader) | 14 |
| 6 | Naresh Maharaj (The Witness, Algoa FM) | 7 |
Catch the action at Aldo Scribante Raceway, Gqeberha, Eastern Cape - 15 August 2026
Where can I buy tickets and watch the livestream?
Tickets are only available at the gate for this event.
To watch the livestream at Extremefestival.co.za, the Extreme Festival Facebook page, or 2WheelsTV on YouTube.
