SuperSport’s Nabil Abdool launches his 2026 GR Cup campaign in style with a commanding double victory at Killarney.
The 2026 GR Cup season roared into life at Killarney International Raceway this past weekend. With a packed 23-car grid spanning the Media, Dealer and Academy classes, fans were treated to a thrilling showcase of Toyota’s rapidly growing racing series.
For most of the Media Challenge class, the opening round marked their first taste of national circuit racing in their brand new 2026 GR Corolla’s. Alongside them were dealer representatives battling for bragging rights in the Dealer class, while a group of talented young karting graduates stepped up to main circuit competition in the Academy class aboard the nimble GR86.
After a week-long heatwave in the coastal city, temperatures began easing slightly by race weekend, paving the way for an exciting opening round of the National Extreme Festival.
FRIDAY FREE PRACTICE
The SuperSport entry underwent a remarkable transformation since its shakedown just two weeks prior. Key upgrades to the Media-class cars included revised suspension and a substantial big brake package. These changes proved to be the “chef’s kiss” for the platform. Stronger braking, a lower stance and firmer suspension combined to elevate the car’s track performance
Practice sessions one through three focused on breaking in the new machinery and bedding in the upgraded brake systems. The scorching track temperatures experienced during Practice 2 and 3 also offered valuable insight into how the cars would behave under the demanding conditions expected on race day.
QUALIFYING
Qualifying proved to be a chaotic affair with a massive grid of 23 GR Cup cars all searching for clean air around the tight Cape Town circuit.
Despite the traffic, Abdool managed to secure pole position in the Media class and second overall on the grid, just behind the Driver Academy Corolla driven by Devon Scott.
Lining up behind Abdool in the Media class were Taye Mbiri (AutoTrader) in second and Craig Nicholson (News24) in third.
RACE 1
The opening eight-lap sprint saw close competition throughout the field as the three classes settled into their rhythm for the first race of the season.
In the Media class, Abdool delivered a composed drive to secure a lights-to-flag victory for SuperSport. AutoTrader’s Mbiri claimed second place while News24’s Nicholson completed the podium in third.
At the front of the overall field, Scott set the pace in the Dealer class with an impressive performance in the Academy-branded GR Corolla.
RACE 2
Race 2 followed a similar script, although the rising ambient temperatures at the Cape Town venue added another layer of difficulty.
Once again Abdool and his new machine maintained a strong and consistent pace throughout the race, managing the conditions while keeping a close watch on the car’s vital systems.
“The heatwave had us concerned, so we kept a close eye on the gauges throughout the sessions, but the car ran perfectly,” Abdool explained.
The result was a second commanding class victory. Nicholson finished runner-up, while eNCA’s Justin Ford clinched third. It capped off an impressive debut weekend for the new GR Corolla and the Media contingent.
LOOKING AHEAD
All things considered, it was a superb opening outing for the 2026 GR Cup machinery and a strong start to the season for the SuperSport entry.
The weekend also highlighted the unique structure of the GR Cup, where rookie media drivers, dealer representatives and the next generation of racing talent all share the same stage.
With a solid foundation now established, the SuperSport team will be looking to extract even more performance from the package as the season progresses.
The National Extreme Festival now heads to Red Star Raceway for Round 2 on Saturday, 18 April, as the championship returns to Mpumalanga following a two-year hiatus. If the opening round at Killarney was anything to go by, the 2026 GR Cup season promises plenty more thrilling racing ahead.