Round 3 of the 2026 GR Cup season heads to Zwartkops Raceway on 23rd May. The circuit serves as the home base of Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa and presents a vastly different challenge to the long, flowing, technical nature of Redstar Raceway. Short, compact and demanding, Zwartkops rewards aggression and precision but punishes even the slightest of errors.
With Dealer drivers, Academy contenders and the Media field all sharing the circuit, the grid will be tighter than ever with 25 cars on track, close-quarters racing is to be expected across every category.
New GR Cup Hot Seat Initiative Debuts
Adding another layer of intrigue to the weekend is the introduction of the new GR Cup Hot Seat initiative by Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa.
The programme will see prominent South African personalities step away from studios, simulators and social media platforms to experience the pressures of real-world circuit racing behind the wheel of the GR Yaris AT.
Leading the charge at Zwartkops this weekend will be Girlie Lukhele, a content creator, sim racer and rookie rally competitor who becomes the first Hot Seat entrant to tackle the challenge in a competitive race environment.
“Track is something that’s not very familiar to me, so I’m really looking forward to learning more than anything,” Lukhele explains. “Rally has always been my comfort zone, but I’m hoping to apply what I’ve learned there to the track environment and hopefully fight for a podium.”
For SuperSport’s Nabil Abdool, the initiative reflects the evolving vision behind the GR Cup platform.
“The GR Cup has once again demonstrated its progressive thinking and inclusive approach to motorsport,” Abdool says. “It is opening doors for passionate enthusiasts from different backgrounds and giving them a genuine opportunity to experience main circuit racing. Initiatives like this help widen the reach of the platform and for motorsport in South Africa”
Media Championship standings
Abdool leads the standings on 28 points after a composed and consistent opening two rounds. Having shown strong pace in both qualifying and race trim, he will be aiming to extend his advantage.
Just behind him is News24’s Nicholson on 19 points. The ex-production car racer has consistently shown front-running pace and remains a strong contender heading into Round 3, particularly at a track he knows well.
Justin Ford and Kumbi Mtshakazi are tied on 12 points apiece, setting up an intriguing midfield battle. Ford’s smooth and calculated approach has delivered consistent results so far, while Kumbi’s aggressive style earned him a solid podium placing; his confidence and pace could make him one to watch around the short Pretoria circuit.
Despite sitting fifth in the standings on eight points, Tayedza Mbiri has endured a difficult run of fortune in recent rounds. After placing 2nd in his debut race at Killarney, an accident in the second heat unravelled Mbiri’s momentum. Technical issues further sidelined him for both race heats at Redstar, costing him valuable points. The AutoTrader driver will no doubt be eager to regain momentum this round. Naresh Maharaj of the Witness trails Mbiri by a single point.
The full Toyota family are expected to descend upon the venue, including senior executives and management, naturally raising the stakes across the GR Cup paddock.
“Zwartkops always draws an incredible crowd, and there’s a special atmosphere around this event,” Abdool adds. “Racing at the home of TGRSA is one thing, but winning here in front of Toyota’s leadership would mean a lot to everyone on the grid.”
Turning Point in the Season
This round is the penultimate inland round before the championship heads to the coast for three consecutive events in Gqeberha, East London and Cape Town, only returning to Pretoria later in the year for the season finale.
With packed grids, passionate crowds and the added pressure of racing at the home of TGRSA, it will be a blockbuster weekend of racing action.
2026 National Extreme Festival Calendar
23 May, Zwartkops Raceway, Pretoria
27 Jun, Aldo Scribante, Gqeberha
15 Aug, Prince George Circuit, East London
19 Sep, Killarney International Raceway, Cape Town
17 Oct, Zwartkops Raceway, Pretoria