TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa (TGRSA) is braced for two days of flat-out rally-raid action as the South African Rally-Raid Championship (SARRC) heads to Parys in the Free State for a season-defining double-header. The Ingco Parys 400 (Round 2) and Ingco Vaal 400 (Round 3) take place on 15–16 August, serving up nearly 800 kilometres of competitive racing and two full sets of championship points — a golden opportunity for crews to stake their claim in the 2025 title fight.
With more than 60% of the route entirely new and the action centred around Stonehenge River Lodge on the banks of the Vaal River, the event promises fast, unpredictable terrain and the kind of strategic challenge that could make or break a season.
The opening round of the 2025 championship — the Renault KEC 400 at Bronkhorstspruit — set the tone for an intensely competitive year, with both of TGRSA’s crews showing strong pace. Now, with the championship moving into back-to-back one-day races, outright speed will need to be matched by careful planning and consistency to secure maximum points from both events.
On Friday, 15 August, the Ingco Parys 400 will kick off with the prologue at 08:00 to determine starting orders, followed by two competitive stages of approximately 193 km each, separated by a 30-minute service at the Designated Service Point (DSP) back at Stonehenge River Lodge. The following day’s Ingco Vaal 400 will follow the same format, with the prologue again starting at 08:00 before two 208 km stages decide the winners of Round 3.
The terrain around Parys is known for its fast, open sections and technical Free State farm tracks, and while some familiar stretches will be retained, the bulk of the route has been reworked following flooding earlier in the season — effectively levelling the playing field for all crews. Both days will demand supreme concentration from drivers and navigators, as well as faultless preparation from their service crews between races.
TGRSA’s GR Hilux IMT EVO line-up brings experience and enthusiasm for this double-header. Fresh from a podium at the season opener, Saood Variawa and French co-driver Francois Cazalet will be aiming to build on their strong start and keep themselves in the title hunt. Guy Botterill and Spanish navigator Oriol Mena, who showed front-running pace before mechanical misfortune in Bronkhorstspruit, will be looking to bounce back into contention with a trouble-free run.
TGRSA Team Principal, Shameer Variawa, said: “Parys is always a tricky one, but the fact that more than half of the route will be completely new this year makes it even more of a challenge — and an opportunity. With two rounds back-to-back, consistency will be the key, but the pace is also going to be flat out from the first kilometre. We’ve got a strong, well-balanced team, and I’m confident we can fight at the sharp end both days.”
With two full rounds in just 48 hours, there is no margin for error — and no better opportunity for teams to make a decisive move in the standings before the championship heads into its second half.
