Toyota conquers South African Safari Rally

Toyota Gazoo Racing is a formidable force in the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC). Once again, the Hilux vehicles showed a strong presence on local soil, and ultimately, a Toyota took the top podium. What was it like to see these monstrous vehicles in action? We'd like to tell you.

Related: Thrills and spills at Aldo Scribante for round 3 of the GR Cup

Looking to get yourself into a W2RC-winning Hilux? You can sell your car quickly and easily on our website here to get a deposit ready. With some cash, search for new or used Toyota Hilux models on AutoTrader here. 

Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa supports international racing in SA

For good reason, over the last few years, Toyota Gazoo Racing has become a loved brand for local racing enthusiasts. Not only did the company enter a popular local racing series, the South African Touring Cars, but it even started the GR Cup. The latter series sees Toyota GR Yaris, GR Corolla, and GR86 models compete over a season for an overall winner and category winner. 

However, with its passion for motorsport, Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa became the title sponsor for the third round of the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC), which took place in and around Sun City this past weekend. TGRSA entered two South African-built and developed Toyota Hilux race vehicles, one crewed by Guy Botterill and Dennis Murphy and the other by Saood Variawa and Francois Cazalet.

What is it like attending a W2RC event?

Suppose you have watched WRC, W2RC rally events, or even the Dakar. In that case, you will remember that cameras are everywhere, enthusiastic fans around every corner and helicopters in the sky. The W2RC that took place last weekend was no different, with heroes Guy Botterill and Dennis Murphy, Saood Variawa and Francois Cazalet and Giniel de Villiers showcasing their racing skills for the world to see.

There are food and beverage tents and a lot of team merchandise, so you can dress like your favourite driver or navigator. The entire experience is surreal, as you can grab a selfie in front of a GR Hilux EVO as actual competitors walk past and greet you.

Find your way to a spectator point, and you will be in awe of how fast these machines can cover ground over sand, soft gravel, rocky outcrops, and dry savannah. More so, how the driver and navigator remain perfectly in sync even over big jumps or disorientating dust clouds. It is a great experience that this writer will recommend to anyone passionate about motorsport.

If, however, you cannot get to the remote areas of a Rally-Raid Championship race, why not check the Toyota GR calendar here, for the next round of the National Extreme Festival near you, where you will find a variety of disciplines such as the SupaCap, GR Cup, and South African Touring Cars competing. 

South African Safari Rally Final Results

After six days of racing, including the Prologue, the 2025 South African Safari Rally ended with a Toyota Gazoo Racing Hilux EVO on the top podium. The fifth and final stage covered 222 km; however, the last 111 km was a special stage around Sun City, where Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa crews Guy Botterill and Dennis Murphy and Saood Variawa and Francois Cazalet made a hard final push to the end.

After impressive results in earlier stages and after winning stage 4, Variawa and Cazalet were the first to set off on the final stage. And because the unfamiliar route makes it incredibly difficult, however, the crew blazed the trail in a final push to the end.

I pushed at yesterday’s winning pace, but opening the road makes it incredibly difficult. There’s just no line to follow, and by the time a few cars are through, the route changes completely. We saw corners become straights just a few cars back. -Saood Variawa, TGRSA, Racing Driver 

The entire Rally was completed without any major mechanical issues from the TGRSA GR Hilux EVOs, further proving the reliability and abilities of the South African-developed and built racing machines. Not just that, but Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings crossed the finish line in a Toyota GR Hilux EVO and won the race overall, leaving Toyota to lead the manufacturer's standings in the W2RC. 

South African Safari Rally 2025 – Standings after Stage 5