Need a warm-up for Kimberley's Drag Weekend? Kyalami has you covered

KIMBERLEY’S petrolheads who find themselves in Gauteng this weekend have the perfect opportunity to warm up for Kimberley's iconic drag racing extravaganza taking place next weekend.

The revs, rubber, and roar await at Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit, where the second round of the 2025 Extreme Festival kicks off with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa (TGRSA) leading the charge. With perfect weather forecast and one of SA’s most demanding tracks in play, this is a must-attend for motorsport fans craving speed and spectacle.

The action at Kyalami takes place on Friday and Saturday, April 11-12, and it promises to be something incredible!

The Line-Up at a Glance: What to Watch For

This weekend’s racing action is split into several high-stakes divisions:

• GR Cup Media Challenge, where South Africa’s top motoring journalists battle it out in manual GR Yaris hot hatches.
• GR Cup Dealer Challenge, sees Toyota dealers from across the country go head-to-head in GR Corollas. Do they trust what they’re flogging to the public? Apparently so.
• The GR86 Development Academy has rising stars sharpening their skills in identical rear-wheel-drive GR86s. An authentic test of skill on a level playing field.
• SATC (South African Touring Cars): This event sees TGRSA’s factory-backed lineup tackle premier touring car competition.
• SupaStarlet: A nimble crowd-favourite racer returns with Dawie van der Merwe at the wheel.

GR Cup Media Challenge – GR Yaris

Motoring media’s best return in the GR Yaris Media Challenge. Nabil Abdool (SuperSport) leads the pack after a dominant opening round, with Kyle Kock (CAR Magazine) and Phuti Mpyane (TimesLive) close behind. Also on the grid are Lawrence Minnie, Charl Bosch, and Willem van der Putte, all eyeing Kyalami glory.

GR Cup Dealer Challenge – GR Corolla

In the dealer showdown, Devon Scott leads the championship, with Paul de Vos stepping in this round for the GR Driving Academy. Challengers include Mario de Sousa, Werner Venter, Andries de Villiers, Rudolf Boonzaier, and Tiaan Combrink. Riaan du Ru debuts for CFAO Mobility, adding more fire to an already fierce field.

GR86 Development Academy

Young guns take centre stage in the GR86 Academy. Jason Coetzee tops the standings but faces tough competition from Mikel Bezuidenhout, Kent Swartz, and Khanya Ngwenya, all eager to make their mark on the country’s most prestigious circuit.

SATC and SupaStarlet Return

In the top-tier SATC, TGRSA sticks with its 2024 lineup: Michael van Rooyen (“Rustenburg Rocket”), Saood Variawa, and Nathi Msimanga.

Meanwhile, the ever-entertaining SupaStarlet will again be piloted by Dawie van der Merwe, delivering compact thrills for fans.