Toyota roars to GTC victory around high-speed East London Grand Prix Circuit

Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa (TGRSA) had another strong showing in the 2023 Global Touring Cars (GTC) championship, finishing on the podium after a weekend of high-speed racing.

Race 1 of the weekend saw privateer Robert Woke, also competing in a Toyota GR Corolla GTC, take the victory, with factory racer Saood Variawa settling for second.

The other factory GR Corolla GTC of Michael van Rooyen finished last of the runners in Race 1, qualifying in third place behind Woke and Variawa. The disappointment didn't end there for TGRSA, though, as Nathi Msimanga suffered from electrical problems, which led to overheating and a compromised race.

Race 2 saw Woke and Variawa take 1-2 again, but Van Rooyen and Msimanga again failed to make an impact on the race. For Msimanga, retirement was his destiny, undoubtedly brought on by the earlier overheating issues. TGRSA opted to pull him from the race as the rising engine temperatures exceeded the safe limits.

"The weekend didn't quite go according to plan, but I'm pleased to have secured valuable points with two consecutive second-place finishes," Variawa said after the two races.

"The competition was fierce, and we faced some unexpected challenges, but as a team, we remain determined and focused on delivering strong performances in the upcoming rounds."

In early September, the 2023 GTC championship continues with Round 6 at the Killarney Race Track in Cape Town.