SuperSport’s Nabil Abdool extended his flawless 2026 GR Cup Media Challenge campaign over the weekend, delivering a masterclass performance to make it ten victories from ten starts at the Aldo Scribante Raceway in Gqeberha.
Returning to the Eastern Cape circuit just seven weeks after his dominant Round 4 performance, Abdool and his SuperSport GR Corolla DAT immediately established strong form by topping all three Friday practice sessions. However, outright honours were contested down to the millisecond thanks to the return of Devon Scott in the GR Driving Academy Corolla. While competing in separate championship categories, the pair staged an elite battle for overall track supremacy that produced some of the tightest margins of the season.
RECORD-BREAKING QUALIFYING AND RACE 1 CONTROL
Qualifying set the tone for the entire weekend. Abdool secured pole position by a microscopic margin of just 0.011 seconds over Scott, setting a new GR Cup lap record in the process.
As the lights went out for Race 1, Abdool capitalised on the inside line into Turn 1 and controlled the tempo from lights to flag. Scott kept the pressure unrelenting, staying within reach throughout the eight-lap sprint. While Abdool held on to claim the overall victory, Scott clinched the fastest lap of the race by just 0.018 seconds, earning himself pole position for Race 2.
AFTERNOON SHOWDOWN
Race 2 produced a dramatic finale. Scott kept his nerve from pole, with Abdool shadowing his every move, maintaining a striking distance over the closing laps and waiting for any opportunity to pounce.
A compromised hairpin exit on the last lap cost Scott vital momentum, enabling Abdool to launch a bold attack around the outside through the Sweep. Scott defended hard by shutting the door firmly and chose to protect the inside line into the final turn, while Abdool swung out and braked late on the outside line.
The two Corollas rounded the final corner wheel-to-wheel and charged down the main straight side-by-side, with Abdool securing the victory by just 0.062 seconds, less than the blink of an eye.
"We knew we were in for a fight this weekend," said Abdool. "The competition with Devon was incredibly close, and that final lap was something special. To come away with two more victories and make it ten from ten is an incredible achievement."
The significance of the Abdool-Scott battle wasn't lost on either driver. Although the two compete in separate championships, their on-track contest produced arguably the weekend's biggest spectacle.
“A massive thank you to Devon for pushing us harder than we thought possible this weekend. The racing was incredibly close, the times between us were mere milliseconds, and the respect and camaraderie between us makes these battles so special. We both want to win, but we're also pushing each other to find that last fraction of a second, and I think everyone watching got to enjoy the result of that. It was an incredible weekend for the GR Cup, and I'm incredibly proud of the team and what we've achieved together,” said Abdool.
DEALER CHALLENGE PODIUM
In the Dealer Challenge, NMI Toyota Werner Venter enjoyed a strong weekend, maintaining his pre-round championship lead with a pair of second-place finishes. NMI Toyota Theo Brits was equally consistent, completing the Dealer Challenge podium in third on both occasions. Venter leads the Dealer championship by two points.
MEDIA CHALLENGE PODIUM
In the Media Challenge, Brandon Jacobs (Khulekani on Wheels) enjoyed the strongest weekend of his campaign. Jacobs finished second in Race 1 and third in Race 2, securing second overall in only his third GR Cup appearance. The Cape Town-born racer has displayed remarkable pace even with limited seat time.
Craig Nicholson (News24) showed front-running pace throughout practice. However, he inadvertently selected the incorrect gearbox mode during qualifying, which compromised his session. He finished third in Race 1 and recovered in Race 2 with decisive passes on Tayedza Mbiri (Auto Trader) and Jacobs to secure second place. Nicholson currently holds second in the Media championship standings.
With five rounds completed, the GR Cup heads into its final two rounds of the 2026 season.
REMAINING 2026 NATIONAL EXTREME FESTIVAL CALENDAR
19 Sep: Killarney International Raceway, Cape Town
17 Oct: Zwartkops Raceway, Pretoria