TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa (TGRSA)’s Global Touring Car (GTC) squad is primed for action at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit, near Midrand in Gauteng. The opening race of the season will form part of the exciting Kyalami 9-Hour race weekend, itself the second round of the Intercontinental GT3 Challenge.
This year’s TGRSA GTC squad consists of veteran racer, Michael van Rooyen, who continues to spearhead the team. He has young Saood Variawa as teammate again, following Variawa’s stunning debut with the team in 2022, when Variawa finished in second place in the championship.
The third Toyota Corolla will be piloted by Nathi Msimanga, who will be making his GTC debut with the team. Msimanga has been racing in various categories over the last few years, but 2023 will mark his first foray in the powerful GTC cars.
With that said, Msimanga will start his time with the team in a 2022 Toyota Corolla sedan, while both Van Rooyen and Variawa will be campaigning brand-new GR Corolla hatchbacks this season.
The opening round kicks off with a Qualifying session on Friday, February 24th, as well as the opening race later the same day. The second race will take place on Saturday morning, in the lead up to the main event – the Kyalami 9-Hour.