My year behind the wheel: from racing the GR Cup to ranking 2025's best cars

As the year draws to a close, and on reflection, it’s been a good year on the motoring front with many exciting cars that we drove, impressive launches and more importantly for the industry, a significant surge in new vehicle sales.

GR Cup

On a personal front, the highlight for me was undoubtedly my participation in the Toyota GR Cup behind the wheel of the Independent Media/IOL  #60 GR Yaris.

I now know what it feels like behind the wheel of a fully stripped-out race car, the ups and downs of racing and being able to push yourself and the car as close to the limit as possible.

Having driven many tracks locally and around the globe on vehicle launches, almost always with an instructor, it’s a completely different ball game strapped into a five-point harness with a fire suit, gloves, balaclava and helmet in a noisy and very hot car.

Your braking marker, turning point, apex, entry and exit points are completely up to you and at speed, there’s very little time to think too much about it.

And it’s only in a race car where you get to understand that a tenth of a second is the difference between being midfield or a back marker.

I have analysed more videos of every track that we raced than I care to remember, and even if it improved my time by a second, it was well worth it.

Going flat out around Killarney in Cape Town, Zwartkops in Pretoria, the frightening East London Grand Prix Circuit, Aldo Scribante in Gqeberha, and the honour to race at the iconic Kayalami Grand Prix Circuit has to be a privilege in anyone's book.

The off-track banter and laughs with media colleagues Lawrence Minnie (Auto Trader), Charl Bosch (Citizen), Kyle Kock (CAR Magazine), Nabil Abdool (SuperSport) and Phuti Mpyane (TimesLive) were legendary, but when the lights went out, that all went out the window as we manoeuvred around a tightly-knit 25-car field.  

An indication of how my race craft had improved through the season was a 10-second difference between my fastest lap in our first outing at Killarney and the second last race a few months later.

It was a privilege to be part of it and something that I will cherish forever.

Favourite car

Out of the many cars that I drove this year, there was one that stood out for me, the BMW 740i.

It embodies everything good in a car. Stylish, well crafted, comfortable, near-perfect suspension and best of all, it’s a saloon, not a ubiquitous SUV.

The 230kW and 450Nm six-cylinder 3.0-litre turbocharged engine with a 48-volt mild hybrid system is one of the smoothest engines you could imagine and suits the executive sedan perfectly.

I described the interior as a luxury Bordeaux villa with immaculate stitching, perfect ergonomics and a place where you can soothe your soul, and I still stand by that.

Porsche

Not far behind and on the opposite end of the scale was the Porsche 911 Carrera.

While it’s billed as the entry to the 911 range, it’s still very much a quintessential 911.

The rear-mounted (as they all are) legendary 3.0-litre flat-six boxer engine with 290kW and 450Nm driving the rear wheels via an eight-speed PDK gearbox howls beautifully as you chase through the gears and will get from 0-100km/h in a claimed 4.1 seconds with a top speed limited to 294km/h.

I’ve yet to encounter a Porsche with a so-so interior, and here it wasn’t any different. It’s a sports car, no doubt, but that doesn’t mean the cockpit can’t be absolutely premium. 

Porsche has managed to combine everything that’s needed to make it a 911 that uses all of its power in such a way that it’s quick, exceptionally well-balanced and won’t kill you if you push it hard.

The steering, suspension and chassis all merge almost perfectly to provide a drive you won’t quickly forget.

Range Rover

The Range Rover Sport SV Edition Two, of which only 23 were allocated to South Africa, left a lasting impression.

It’s not just the beautiful lines that make it stand out in a sea of same-same SUVs, but like all Range Rovers, the interior is simply exquisite.

And because it’s an SV Edition, you know there’s something special under the bonnet and in this case a gloriously sounding BMW-sourced mild hybrid (MHEV) twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 petrol engine with 467kW and 750Nm that will get to 100km/h in 3.7 seconds and top out at 290km/h.

At R3,553,300, it’s silly money, but that’s what people are prepared to pay for exclusivity, and I completely understand it.

Dark Horse

What would a year be without the thrill of an unadulterated naturally aspirated V8 engine?

Thankfully, the Mustang Dark Horse and I crossed paths again after its launch in America two years ago.

As a track-focused Mustang with its 5.0-litre Coyote V8 engine pushing out 334kW and 540Nm, the “Coyote” alone is enough to put a smile on your face. 

Unlike the previous generation, the steering is sharp and precise and hard cornering can be done with confidence.

It’s still a handful, though, when pushed hard with the rear wheels propelling you forward and at high speeds, you need to have your wits about you, into and out of corners.

It’s also the car that attracted the most attention with whistles and numerous requests to rev the car for the earth to rumble.

Special mentions

There was also the BMW M5, which was simply outstanding in everything that it’s supposed to do. Blistering acceleration, pinpoint handling despite its weight and a wonderfully comfortable interior.

Don’t discount the Suzuki Swift either.

It doesn’t pretend to be something that it isn’t. It’s good looking, extremely easy to drive, has everything you need in terms of practicality and specification and with a reputation of reliability and frugalness, it deserves to be a top seller. 

A car that I thought I really wouldn’t like was the Chery Tiggo Cross HEV, but it surprised me enough to get an honourable mention.

As a hybrid electric vehicle, real-world economy impressed with figures of 5.0l/100km, including a 3.8l/100km 35-kilometre stretch in slow peak hour highway driving. 

The steering is woeful, though, but for people buying it, this would be last on their list of must-haves.

It’s been a busy year, which means it was a good year for the industry and with more exciting new models scheduled for 2026, the future is looking bright.