The Algoa National Rally brought it all – Rain, mud, and mayhem!
The Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa (TGRSA) team produced two solid results that see the Citizen Motoring Toyota GR Yaris still in the hunt for an overall podium.
The Algoa National Rally, held on Friday, presented a challenging course through Longmore Forest. The gravel roads were fast and natural, but also muddy and covered in small pebbles, along with changing light conditions from shadows to bright sun. Drivers had to remain focused for extended periods, leading to mental fatigue. Despite this, the team managed to complete the stage, much to the relief of their TGRSA team.
Saturday's Round 7 in Uitenhage and Despatch saw the rally transformed by weather conditions, with rain flooding the opening stages. Organisers initially considered canceling the event, but it eventually proceeded with only a few short stages and three runs at the demanding six-kilometer spidersweb stage. The team faced numerous challenges, yet they managed to bring their Toyota GR Yaris home, covering significant distances despite the harsh conditions.
The team's efforts paid off, as they earned a fourth-place finish in both rounds, bringing them back into the points system. This successful outcome follows two previous races where they did not finish. Consequently, they have completed five of the seven rounds of the 2026 National Rally Championship, placing them in second position in the NRC2 class standings with 95 points.
With one round left in the season, they currently trail the championship leader Bruce Swatton by 37 points and third-placed Lynton Swatton by eight points. The team now sets their sights on the TRAC N4 Rally at Dullstroom on October 30th and 31st, the final event of the 2026 rally season.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
