Falkiner dominates at round 1 of the 2023 GR Cup

The new-look TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa GR Cup had its season debut at the Zwartkops International Raceway on Saturday, 18 February 2023, that includes the lately launched GR 86, somewhat than the Yaris fashions utilized in 2022. The opening weekend noticed TimeLIVE author Thomas Falkiner dominate as the skilled campaigner took the honours in each heats on the day.

Sophomore yr for Falkiner off to an excellent begin

Falkiner, who raced in the first GR Cup final yr, made the most of his simple data and expertise of the Zwartkops circuit to take pole place in a time of 1min 13.930sec, inserting him nicely clear of second-placed ASAMM’s Setshaba Mashigo; and Brendon Staniforth of Maroela Media in third.

As in 2022, the newest GR Cup will probably be contested by six of South Africa’s foremost motoring writers. The Citizen’s Mark Jones is the solely former competitor to crack a second nod, however Falkiner, too, returned to motion after colleague Denis Droppa was unable to attend the opening round.

“This truly is a one-off for me this year,” defined Falkiner. “Denis had to attend a function over the opening weekend, and Toyota allowed me to sub for him. This was just the chance I needed.”

The extremely aggressive Falkiner made the most of the alternative, after ranging from pole place for the opening warmth.

“The front-engined, rear-wheel-drive layout of the GR 86 made for a completely different driving experience to that of the four-wheel-drive GR Yaris we had last year, but it seemed to suit my style”

“I was in the lead when the flag dropped for the first race, and I never looked back.”

TimeLIVE author Thomas Falkiner

Setshaba held onto his second place all through the 10-lap race, with Staniforth ending in 3^rd. Jones was in 4^th, with GR Cup debutants Chad Luckhoff (Auto Trader) and Reuben van Niekerk (Jumping Kids/Wheels24) in 5^th and 6^th respectively.

Falkiner even overtook one of the GR Yaris that began forward of the GR 86 drivers, clearly exhibiting his tempo – although his quickest lap throughout the first race was 1min 14.210, nonetheless a way off the time set throughout qualifying.

TGRSA GR Cup race 2

Race 2 noticed Falkiner attain a second flag-to-flag victory, this time whereas setting a quickest lap of 1min 13.975sec. Mashigo once more completed in 2^nd place, whereas Jones and Staniforth duked it out over the course of the race, buying and selling positions in a struggle for the podium. In the finish, it was Jones who improved on his efficiency from the opening race to take 3^rd. Staniforth was relegated to 4^th, with Luckhoff and Van Niekerk sustaining their positions.

Once the mud had settled, the scorers issued an official general end result for the day. Unsurprisingly, it was Falkiner who took the honours, with Mashigo in second and Staniforth in third. Jones completed in 4^th general, with Luckhoff taking 5^th and Van Niekerk in 6^th.

The subsequent round of the 2023 GR Cup is about to happen at the iconic Killarney Raceway in Cape Town, on March 17^th and 18^th.

Published by Lelo Ndzimela Toyota South Africa on MotorPress

For continued protection of the 2023 TGRSA GR Cup season, observe our motorsport web page.