Toyota Gazoo Racing dominates Round 3 with two podiums
Parys, tucked away in the heart of the Free State, came alive this past weekend with the roar of engines, clouds of dust, and the unmistakable buzz of adrenaline as the Toyota Gazoo Racing Hiluxes went head-to-head with the competition at the Rally-Raid Championship (SARRC).
Toyota walked away with a standout performance in Round 3, claiming a double podium that included a maiden victory for Saood Variawa and co-driver Francois Cazalet. While the results from Round 2 are still being finalised, the weekend has already been a major success for the team.
Basecamp at Stonehenge Lodge, home to the designated service point and Race HQ, gave fans a front-row seat to the action. The race covered nearly 800km, with over 60% of it being entirely new. Crews had to give their all, making this double-header a true test of skill and endurance.
Under the bonnet, the GR Hilux IMT EVOs pack a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 from the Land Cruiser 300, tuned to deliver 264kW and 620Nm. Power flows through Toyota’s Sadev 6-speed sequential gearbox, with limited-slip differentials front, centre, and rear to tackle the most challenging terrain. Beyond the impressive engineering, the trucks are striking to look at, which begs the question. What if Toyota made a road-legal version? We can’t help but wonder…
Saturday left no room for doubt. Variawa and Cazalet secured the overall victory, while Guy Botterill and Oriol Mena fiercely fought for 3rd place, successfully holding off the pursuing pack.
The Parys terrain proved every bit as challenging as expected, with deep water crossings, unexpected mud, and tricky mid-winter conditions. The weather was kind, but out on the stages, the heat was on. All weekend, TGRSA stayed at the sharp end, leading the action.
“It was a tough weekend for sure,” said TGRSA Team Principal Shameer Variawa. “Our crews had to preserve the cars for Round 3, but they not only finished strongly on Round 2, they also secured a double podium the very next day. Preparing the cars for both days under pressure is something we’re familiar with from Dakar, and we’re ecstatic with the confirmed results.”
The championship points are still being finalised, but looking at the bigger picture, TGRSA has built serious momentum. Next up is Round 4, a new addition to the calendar, taking place on 19 and 20 September at Louvain Guest Farm near George in the Western Cape. With the team’s current form, all eyes will be on Toyota to see if they can carry this momentum into uncharted territory.
