2022 Toyota Starlet rally car

Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa scored a full house of points in the third and fourth rounds of the SA National Rally Championship (NRC). Driving a South African developed and built Toyota Starlet, Guy Botterill and co-driver Simon Vacy-Lyle took victory in both rounds held in the area surrounding the Mpumalanga town of Secunda.

The victory was the locally-built Starlet’s first and showed that the team’s first attempt at building a racing car was a successful one. Following his triumph at the end of Stage 4, Botterill could scarcely contain his excitement.

Consisting of six stages, the Starlet of Botterill and Vacy-Lyle was the first car on the road in Round 3 and managed to set the fastest time in Stage 1. In Stage 2, the duo maintained their 14.1-second advantage before a broken turbo halted progress in Stage 3. Luckily, the team could replace the broken part and complete the remaining stages to secure Round 3 victory.

Round 4 brought about no technical issues, and the team could build on their Stage 1 advantage to secure overall victory.

Botterill said: “We are overjoyed to secure the Starlet’s first win. The car is extremely fast, and now that we’re sorting out the teething problems that held us back on the opening event, we clearly have a car that is capable of winning the championship.

“In a way, it is a relief for the team to get a first win under the belt. We’ve spent so many long days and nights in the workshop, and this is a just reward for all that effort.”

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred

In times of uncertainty you need journalism you can trust. For 14 free days, you can have access to a world of in-depth analyses, investigative journalism, top opinions and a range of features. Journalism strengthens democracy. Invest in the future today. Thereafter you will be billed R75 per month. You can cancel anytime and if you cancel within 14 days you won’t be billed.