MOTORSPORT
Toyota GR Cup gears up for Zwartkops grand finale on Saturday
The spotlight now shifts to the fierce contest for second place.
The 2023 Toyota GR Cup has its final showdown at Zwartkops Raceway this Saturday, and an exciting season finale is expected.
This weekend marks the culmination of an action-packed season in this one-make racing series for motoring journalists. While Setshaba Mashigo (ASAMM) has already clinched the 2023 GR Cup title, the battle for second place promises to deliver intense competition.
Mashigo, who has translated his sim racing skills into the real world with great success, secured the title at the last round after a series of commanding performances throughout the season. However, the spotlight now shifts to the fierce contest for second place.
Denis Droppa (TimesLIVE), Mark Jones (Citizen), and Chad Luckhoff (Auto Trader) find themselves locked in a tight battle for the runner-up position in the overall standings. Droppa currently sits in second place with 37 points, closely trailed by Jones and Luckhoff, each with 36 points.
Adding to the excitement is Brendon Staniforth (Maroela Media), who is in fifth place with 34 points, a mere three points adrift of second. With the points gap so close, the final two eight-lap races of the season are set to be fiercely contested.
The Zwartkops International Raceway, known for its challenging layout and rich racing history, provides the perfect backdrop for the championship's thrilling conclusion.
This weekend will also see Toyota South Africa Motors' vice-president of marketing, Glenn Crompton, join the fray as guest driver in one of the GR86 cars. The other guest driver is Toyota GR senior manager Riaan Esterhuysen, making his second outing in this year’s GR Cup.
The Toyota GR Cup is part of the Extreme Festival, which also has races for Global Touring Cars, Compcare Polo Cup, SunBet ZX10 Masters Cup, Mobil 1 V8 Supercars and Investchem F1600.
Saturday’s first race is scheduled for 10am, and tickets cost R130 for adults, R90 for students and children under 12 free. For more information go to www.zwartkops.co.za.