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Collin Matiza
Rising Zimbabwean motor racing driver Dylan Pragji is fast establishing himself as one of the top main circuit racing drivers in South Africa.
Bulawayo-based 18-year-old Pragji has this year been competing in the tough 2024 Toyota Gazoo GR Cup series and this past weekend saw him making his way to the popular Zwartkops Raceway track in Pretoria for the Round 3 of the competition, which brings together all the top South African main circuit racing drivers.
The Zwartkops Speed Festival, part of the National Extreme Festival, lived up to its reputation as the 2024 GR Cup delivered another weekend of thrilling racing action.
Being part of the National Extreme Festival, it lived up to its reputation as the 2024 GR Cup delivered another weekend of thrilling racing action. Round 3 of the championship saw intense battles, unexpected twists, and remarkable performances from the motoring writers competing in the series, all behind the wheel of the formidable GR Corolla.
Pragji was in the thick of things at Zwartkops where he raised his country’s flag high whilst racing in the GR86 Development Academy section.
At the weekend, the GR86 Development Academy saw Dawie van der Merwe securing another victory, followed by fellow South Africans Setshaba Mashigo and Ryan Naicker.
Niko Zafiris and Pragji finished fourth and fifth respectively. Coming up against these seasoned South African drivers, Pragji showed no ghost of an inferiority complex as he delivered another polished performance, pushing his way into a credible fifth-place finish in what he said was a great weekend for his team.
Recapping on his performance at the weekend, Pragji said: “A great weekend of racing from everyone in the #grcup making it a competitive grid with close split times for us all this weekend.
“Qualifying was exciting; we were all pushing to get that much faster on the track that we are familiar with. I qualified P5 for race one.
“Overall on the day I finished P5 (position 5), not as strong as I had hoped for but I have learnt a lot this weekend by trying different techniques to try and keep improving.
“Sometimes our days don’t always go according to plan and that’s also ok because I have still gained valuable experience and knowledge to take with me to our next race day and I am looking forward to our next round in Port Elizabeth in June.
“Big thank you to our mechanics who always make sure our cars are race ready, we appreciate your hard work to get us out on the track!”
Donna Gaines-Burrill, who has been following Pragji since Round 1 of the Toyota Gazoo GR Cup Series added: “Chasing dreams with fearless determination. “It was a very tight race weekend well done to all the drivers.
“Dylan finishing overall P5, it was not the strongest finish but everything we learn from is an opportunity to become stronger!
Online Reporter