RACE CENTRE PREVIEW powered by Toyota Gazoo Racing — All-new GTC war heads up weekend action
Sports have always enjoyed brilliant rivalries. The rugby Boks versus the All Blacks, fir example. The Stormers and the Bulls. Australia against England in Cricket, Germany playing Brazil in Soccer.
It’s the same on track. Ferrari against McLaren, Williams and Mercedes in F1, versus Ford at Le Mans. Ford and Chevy in NASCAR, and Holden in Aussie. And many more.
It’s never been any different in South African racing. Here it goes back to Alfa Romeo, Ford and Renault fighting it out in the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s. BMW versus Opel. And Alfa, Ford and Mazda too. Never mind Toyota versus Volkswagen on the rally stages.
BETTER GRAB THAT OLD ANORAK!
Well, if you still have your old Toyota or VW anorak in the cupboard, we have good news for you. Toyota and VW are back at war. Starting this weekend, when South Africa’s biggest carmakers go back to war. But it’s no longer on the rally stages as it once was. It’s on track in GTC racing, where battle commences this weekend at the Red Star Raceway.
A completely new look GTC will emerge from lockdown, headlined by an all-new line-up in the top class. The last old school GTC race winner and 2019 title contender Michael van Rooyen and GTC 2 graduate Mandala Mdkane take to the track in a pair of brand new latest generation Toyota Gazoo Racing GTC Corollas.
They will face reigning GTC champion Keagan Masters and class veteran Daniel Rowe aboard two brand new Volkswagen Golf 8 GTI GTCs. It promises to be a brand new Clash of the Giants.
TOYOTA MAN VAN ROOYEN READY
“We’re looking forward to measuring our performance against the competition this weekend,” Toyota pilot Michael van Rooyen admitted. “There are several new cars in the field and it is always exciting to see how everyone measures up. “We’re confident that our new car will be competitive from the start.”
The factory Toyotas will be backed up by a pair WCT re-engineered Investchem Logistics Toyota Corolla Quests for single seater refugees Robert Wolk and Scott Temple.
Behind them will be a swarm of new Polos racing in the all-new GTC Supacup second division. GTC2 and Polo Cup champion Brad Liebenberg and former Polo champion Jeffrey Kruger take up battle with the likes of Johathan Mogotsi, Saul Hack, Andre Bezuidenhout, Shaun Duminy and Jason Campos in hot pursuit.
The Oettinger Polo Cup and Investchem Formula 1600s also race at Red Star, where the racing happens behind closed doors. The Auto Race Centre powered by Toyota Gazoo Racing will however cover all the Red Star action as it happens, complete with live streaming.
F1, MOTO GP, NURBY 24, MORE ON THE AUTO RACE CENTRE
The Auto Race Centre menu this weekend includes Formula 1 updates from Russia and Moto GP from Barcelona. Add regular coverage from the Nurburgring 24 Hour and GT World Challenge Zandvoort, as well as IMSA from Mid-Ohio. Locally there will be second round SA Motocross championship action from Thunder Valley Pietermaritzburg and WP regional coverage from the Killarney Power Series WP regional.
Find the Auto Race Centre powered by Toyota Gazoo Racing on top of theauto.page from Friday morning. The Auto Race Centre powered by Toyota Gazoo Racing runs throughout the weekend. Coverage will include live streaming where plausible.
Find last week’s Auto Race Centre Wrap Here…
