Hailed by the automotive public as a mastery of efficiency hatchbacks, Toyota’s regionally unreleased GR Corolla just lately took to the Simola Hillclimb underneath the modified class. Right here is why.

Serving as a flexing floor for producers, the Simola Hillclimb has developed in its decade and a half of existence. The 2023 version was not in need of spectacular OEM equipment with the likes of BMW, Mercedes-AMG, Suzuki, Honda and Volkswagen strutting their stuff. Toyota South Africa Motors introduced a sole GR Corolla to tear it up the 1,9 km strip of Knysna tarmac nevertheless it didn’t compete within the A2 class however the B3 class as an alternative.
The courses are categorised as follows:
- A2 Street going vehicles – 4 cylinder – 4WD
- B3 Racing vehicles – limitless 4-cylinder – 4WD
The reasoning behind classing the Japanese sizzling hatch within the B3 class got here right down to tyres. From the manufacturing facility, the GR Corolla comes fitted with Yokohama Advan Apex V601 tyres. Centered on the Japanese Home Market, they don’t embrace DOT markings. The DOT image certifies that the tire is compliant with the U.S. Division of Transportation’s security requirements.
Organisers of the Simola Hillclimb make use of DOT markings as a differentiator between street tyres and racing tyres nevertheless the set of rubber beneath the GR Corolla is the anomaly since they’ve E4 markings for homologation functions, making them street tyres. Just like the U.S. Division of Transportation (DOT) markings, E4 represents European-tyre approval indicating is has met security requirements set by the European Regulatory Authorities.
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The A2 class included the likes of Mercedes-AMG’s profitable A45’s in addition to Volkswagens Golf R. The three-cylinder Japanese hatch needed to problem the likes of Petter Solberg’s Polo R WRX Supercar and a modified Polo 6R within the B3 class which had apparent benefits. Because of the technicality, the GR Corolla didn’t qualify towards its adversaries for the Sunday Class Finals.
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Regardless of this, right here is how the yet-to-be-released GR Corolla fared towards different road-going sizzling hatches within the last qualifying session on Sunday.
- Mercedes-AMG A45 S (Clint Weston A2) – 45,939
- Mercedes-AMG A45 S (Mika Salo A2) – 46,361 (DQ)
- Volkswagen Golf R (Daniel Rowe A2) – 47,972
- Honda Civic Kind R (Deon Joubert A1) – 48,927
- Volkswagen Golf R (Jonathan Mogotsi A2) – 49,331
- Volkswagen Golf R (Henning Solberg A2) – 49,391
- Toyota GR Corolla (Nathi Msimanga B3) – 49,592
- Suzuki Swift Sport (Wesley Greybe A1) – 55,397
- Suzuki Swift Sport (Sudhir Matai A1) – 55,764
- Suzuki Swift Sport (Kumbi Mtshakazi A1) – 56,403
Discover your subsequent Toyota Corolla with CARmag here.