It will be GR galore at the Extreme Festival hosted at Kyalami this weekend with GR Corollas and GR 86s sharing the hallowed circuit with a fleet of GR Yaris models too. Here are details ahead of the second round of the racing series! 
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A total of 17 of Toyota’s Gazoo Racing ready models will be taking to the tarmac for the second round of the GR Cup this season. Like before, a fleet of journalist-driven GR Corollas will be vying for victory while the separate class of Toyota’s Development Academy drivers will be competing with GR 86s. In addition to this mixed fleet of boxer and three-cylinder power will be dealer-entered GR Yaris models, that have already been subject to two seasons of hard racing. Representing CAR Magazine in the series for 2024, Alex Shahini is trailing first and second places but hopes to be more competitive in the ‘home race.’
Related: Learning the Ropes – GR Cup Round 1
“Following the opening round in Cape Town at a track I have never race at, a debut third place across both races has me sitting behind Sean Nurse and Hannes Visser however Kyalami is a track I am familiar with, and I am hoping this will mean I can reduce the deficit to the front runners come race day.” – Alex Shahini, Digital Editor of CAR Magazine and competitor in the GR Cup.
Shahini further added that Kyalami is among his favourite circuits globally, with undulations, gradient changes and sweeping corners making it akin to a rollercoaster ride at a facility worthy of international tier motorsports. This will also be the first time the GR Cup has had the motoring media tackle the famed circuit in the series’ history since the previous two seasons did not have it included on the calendar. Here is how things stand going into the second race weekend of the season.
GR CUP Standings
- Sean Nurse – 14 points
- Hannes Visser – 10 points
- Alex Shahini – 8 points
- Bernie Hellberg – 6 points
- Kumbi Mtshakazi – 3 points
- Jaco van der Merwe – 3 points
In addition to the media contingent, Toyota has its youthful development academy going into its second round too, with some drivers still in their early teens. While Dawie van der Merwe leads comfortably, GR Cup Champion and CAR Magazine affiliate Setshaba Mashigo is back at it again and has managed to secure second position ahead of the weekend.
GR 86 Development Academy Standings
- Dawie van der Merwe – 14 points
- Setshaba Mashigo – 9 points
- Niko Zafiris – 9 points
- Dylan Pragji – 5 points
- Ryan Naicker – 5 points
- Kent Swartz – 2 points
Related: Toyota GR Corolla Race 1 – 2024 GR Cup Ep 2
Potentially the largest motoring event of the season, action at the Extreme Festival on the 13th of April will include a haul of two-wheeled and four-wheeled machines, with the ZX10 Masters Cup, VW Challenge Formula Vee, 111/GT Sports & Saloons including SuperHatch, Toyota GR Cup, BMW Race Series, F1600 including Formula Ford Kent, V8 Supercars, Polo Cup, Extreme SuperCars and the space-frame built South African Touring Cars including the SupaCup taking to the tarmac.
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A beer garden, food stalls, live music and passenger drift rides will be available to spectators too. Tickets are R200 per person and kids under 12 get in free. The action gets underway with practice on Thursday, qualifying on Friday, and two races on Saturday. Get your tickets here!
