Racing reality check
After almost seven weeks of non-stop rain and generally foul weather in Gauteng, the clouds parted, and the sun came out to play over Kyalami International Grand Prix Circuit as the Extreme Festival National and Regional Series rolled into town. The Extreme Festival would host the second round of the GR Cup Series, where the GR86 Cup, Dealer GR Corolla Cup and GR Yaris Media Cup would take to the tar to test their mettle on the hallowed tarmac.
Related: Sizzling season opener for the 2025 GR Cup
From the first practice on Thursday morning, the track began rubbering in as class after class began putting in times, incrementally getting faster and faster as the track warmed up and became less green after the weeks of rain. The weekend was split into FP1 (First Practice) and FP2 on Thursday, FP3 and Qualifying on Friday, and Race 1 and Race 2 on Saturday, each session only lasting eight laps, barely enough time to get to grips with the high speeds of the track and the ever-changing conditions in cars that were quite literally competing in their last race weekend.
Toyota GR Cup to set Kyalami ablaze
Farewell GR Yaris
The GR Yaris race cars that we began the year with have seen plenty of action. This being their fourth year of competition and having been raced hard for three years prior, they were a little ragged around the edges but still ready to run. The mechanical team warned us to keep the engines off the red line and bring them home in one piece.
Practice and qualifying
Basing my goals on times set by my colleague, Sean Nurse, times from last year, I set a goal of getting down to a 2 min 12 secs. I know from past experience that I am about 4 seconds adrift of last year's champ, so based on his initial 2.09 from last year's FP1, this is what I would be aiming for. My first practice session was eye-opening; the speed and commitment required to take these lines has a pucker factor of 7.5, and I only managed an initial 2.16 in FP1. Some analysis of the race lines from my Garmin Catalyst saw me pull two seconds off that in FP2, dropping to a low 2.14. In FP3 on Friday morning, I cracked into the low 2.13s and consistently hit the 2:13 marker. Qualifying arrived, and it was now or never, and I surprised even myself by posting a 2:12.5. Success! Achievement Unlocked.
I qualified the same as I had in Cape Town in 4th position, but this time only a second behind my nearest rival. The spanner in the works however was the three GR Corollas between him and I, and I would have my work cut out to get onto his bumper in the race.
Race 1
Unlike the 1st round, we would start our race without the yellow caution flags, meaning it was all out from when the lights went out. I stuck to the Corolla in front of me into the first corner and found myself boxed in on all sides by GR Corollas and dealer drivers who were out for each other's blood. In the ensuing melee, I conceded the fight and dropped back, allowing the GR Corolla's to go ahead and beat each other, hanging back and enjoying the show while punching lap after consistent lap.
Unknown to me, up ahead, the GR 86 drivers had been having a demolition derby, trading paint and spinning out. While out in no-man land, I encountered one of the wounded 86s and passed him only to find myself suddenly in his crosshairs. As we entered the final corner onto the main straight, he dove inside me into the corner and wham! Contact! The damage was slight; there were just some scuffs, but wow! My first racing incident, it was then that a deep reality that I had chosen to ignore since slipping on a race suit hit home; this is real and dangerous if you get it wrong, a fact only reinforced while chasing down said 86, he completely lost it and went careening off the circuit through the gravel trap and concrete storm drain in the Esse's, barely missing me while rejoining the track in a shower of stones and grass. I took more damage as a stray stone cracked my windshield. I retook the place, keeping an eagle eye on him in the review mirror until we crossed the finish line.
I finished where I started, 4th in my group, but astoundingly managed a 2:10,8 race pace.
Race 2
I would start Race 2 in the same place as I did in Race 1, but I was determined to take the fight to the Corollas. Going into the first corner, I put my elbows out and managed to get ahead of one of the Corollas and stayed there for two laps until a missed shift from me saw him take back the place, it was a fantastic two-lap tussle that I thoroughly enjoyed. After the battle, I settled into a solid rhythm and punched the rest of my laps in relative peace. I enjoyed the race and crossed the line with a 2:10,3 lap time.
I couldn't have hoped for a better race weekend; I improved exponentially, brought the car back in one piece (relatively), finished where I started, conceding no points and had an incredible amount of fun with an equally remarkable group of guys (and girls) that I am learning to love.
Onto Round 3
Aldo Scribante beckons for round three of the GR Cup series. It's a track that no one in our group has raced yet, and to add some extra spice, we'll be doing it in brand-new branded, auto transmission GR Yaris cars that wouldn't have turned a wheel in anger. What could go wrong?
The Extreme festival rolls into Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) on the 8th and 9th of May, so make sure you have your tickets! Say hi if you are at the track, swing by the pits! We're a friendly bunch who will happily tell you about the cars and the series.
Thanks to Toyota South Africa, Gazoo Racing South Africa, Extreme Festival, and our sponsors, Garmin, Dunlop, Kinto, Toyota Financial Services, Ferodo and OMP.
