The final showdown in this year’s Global Touring Cars (GTC) Championship is set to take place at the Zwartkops Raceway near Tshwane, Gauteng, this weekend – and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing SA’s young gun, Saood Variawa, still has a chance to win the title.
Variawa, driving in his first full GTC season, became the youngest race winner in the formula during the last round, when he brought his GTC Toyota Corolla home in first place during the second race of the weekend. The 17-year old now finds himself just 21 points behind championship leader Robert Wolk, who campaigns a privately entered Toyota Corolla.
“There are 43 points on offer this weekend,” said Variawa in the buid-up to the weekend. “That’s 20 per race, plus one point for pole position, as well as the fastest laps in each race. So, depending on how things play out, we may just stand a chance.”
While Variawa will be aiming to secure the title, despite his deficit in the standings, teammate Michael van Rooyen will be hoping for a solid points haul himself. The ‘Rustenburg Rocket’ could match Variawa’s points if he has a perfect run, but his primary role this weekend will be to assist Variawa wherever possible.
The team’s third Corolla GTC car will be driven by motoring journalist Ashley Oldfield this weekend. Oldfield, who has been racing in the TGRSA GR Cup this year, secured the Cup title during Round 6 of the season, and will be stepping into the GTC car for the first time this weekend.
“The opportunity to not only drive the GTC car, but to take part in a race with it, is a very exciting prospect for me,” said Oldfield before the race weekend.
