To be officially amazing is a feat few get to experience. It takes a huge team, dedication and a great cause to break a record. That’s exactly what happened at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit, where the Rhino Run gathered enough lavish machinery to set a new Guinness World Record. The record was achieved, and even better, TGSA’s Ntsako and I were part of the official counting team, assisting Guinness World Record adjudicator Mbali Nkosi in authenticating every car involved.
The record, set on July 19, 2026, began at the FNB Stadium, where nearly 300 supercars and owners gathered for an international convoy of the century. Escorted by the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD), the convoy glistened in style en route to the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit, where we waited eagerly for the day to kick off. We heard the sirens before we saw the convoy, and never before had a line of exotics created such a long traffic jam. It was a momentous sight, one so immense that the line stretched from the skid pan down the service roads, out the front gate, onto the main road, and into the distance, where the queue disappeared over the hill.
But there was no gentle ticking of engines here; instead, it was a line of V12s roaring, V8s popping and smiles for genuine miles. The cars occupied the track’s main straight, parked four abreast and shoulder to shoulder. Once all were in position, the queue stretched from the start line around the Ingwe final corner and stretched until 40 metres short of the Cheetah kink. Never before had we witnessed such a staggering collection of exotic cars gathered in one place.
I had two jobs that day: to assist the GWR adjudicator with an accurate count and document why MUA and the supercar community go hand in hand. MUA is more than just an insurance provider for exotic cars. It actively supports the supercar community, helping owners enjoy events like the Rhino Run with confidence while keeping these gorgeous pieces of metal safe and protected.
As the event’s title sponsor, it played an important role in making the event possible. I was there to cover the event on its behalf, but it also entrusted us with assisting with the verification process. It was a responsibility that demanded accuracy over our usual TopGear-style tongue-in-cheek approach and one we took seriously.
Once the cars were parked, Mbali and I began our stroll through the field of supercars, ensuring that each car was present and accounted for. A few hopeful Mustangs and Bentley Continentals attempted to sneak past the supercar jurisdiction. It didn’t take long to appreciate the weight of the responsibility. Barely 10 cars into the count, it dawned on me that our tally would determine whether hundreds of owners would celebrate a new record or leave disappointed. No guesswork here.
The cars ticked by, and the number grew; with every Mustang removed, five more Audi R8s, Ferrari 458s and McLaren 720s appeared, and by the time we reached the final corner, we were right on the edge of the record with another 100+ cars left to count.
I remember a moment when we stopped in front of a Mazda RX-7 FD parked in front of a Mk4 Toyota Supra, and I couldn’t help letting out a quiet sigh. Mbali noticed immediately and asked what was wrong. “These two are not supercars,” I said. “They are legends. We can’t count them, but it’s awesome to have them here.” Fortunately, the Lamborghini Huracán next to these JDM legends tips the scale of 170 cars to beat, and now, unbeknownst to everybody watching, the record has been beaten, and there are still some cars to go through.
We concluded our count with a number of disqualified models and went back to begin the second count with the other expert on-site, Ntsako. We did the walk again and concluded the numbers. The record has been achieved with a score of 243 cars, beating the prior record by 73 supercars. There was a sense of honour, standing in the crowd as the cheers and revs rang out at the winning announcement. It was a sense of real, genuine achievement. But it was at this point that reality set in. Winning a world record is massive, and having your name on a GWR certificate is an honour, but this record was only a part of something bigger.
The Rhino Run may have grabbed the headlines, but that was never the point of it. It exists as a charity event created to bring light to the need for rhino conservation and to look after orphaned rhinos. Donating a massive amount of fat-free milk to Rhino Connect and raising funds for the operation whilst supporting local communities and schools. It’s a charity event that is wonderful as an enthusiast but is so much more important than going for a drive with some friends. And to say that it was a success would be a grave understatement. Official figures are yet to be released, but the funds raised are expected to be well into seven-figure territory.
Congratulations, Ferris Cars, the Ferris Hope Foundation and the Rhino Run event. You achieved something special. A day of celebration and bringing a bigger light to a desperate need. You are officially amazing, and we are honoured to have played a part in your record. MUA, thank you for making the event happen and keeping the cars and drivers looked after. The record to beat is now set at 244 supercars, and the question is no longer whether the record can be broken; it’s how much bigger next year’s event can be. We will see you there.
