- Fifth year as Official Vehicle Partner.
- New 9th generation Hilux leads support fleet.
- Three legs run 6 to 15 November.
- Toyota Specialized Imbuko team returns in 2026.
For the fifth consecutive year, Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) will serve as Official Vehicle Partner of the FNB Wines2Whales mountain bike race, which winds through the wine farms and coastline of the Overberg. The new 9th generation Toyota Hilux will lead the fleet supporting riders, officials and crew across all three legs of the 2026 event.
The vehicles will transport race officials and provide logistical support along the route. Glenn Crompton, Vice President: Marketing at Toyota South Africa Motors, said the partnership would “support the logistics of the race, enhance the rider experience and introduce the new Hilux to a community of riders and fans who share our passion for capability and adventure.”
Wines2Whales race dates and categories
Each of the three categories follows the same route on its own dates. Chardonnay, from 6 to 8 November, is aimed at Elite Women’s and Age category teams. Pinotage runs from 9 to 11 November and is reserved for E-Bike riders, while Shiraz, from 13 to 15 November, hosts the Elite Men’s and Elite Mixed categories.
Toyota cruise sections and sim racing
The Toyota Cruise Sections return for 2026, adding obstacles that give riders a change of pace along the route. Luxury Route Tours will take VIP guests to vantage points on the course, and the carmaker also sponsors the Toyota Mixed Category, the race’s team format for one man and one woman riding together.
Off the bike, two sim racing rigs at the FNB Recharge Zone will let riders compete during their down time.
Toyota Specialized Imbuko team returns
The Toyota Specialized Imbuko team will again line up, with several riders returning after strong results last year. Tristan Nortje, riding with teammate Marco Joubert, climbed from 5th to 3rd overall after winning Stage 2, finishing 2:55 behind the leaders.
Jaedon Terlouw was 2nd overall after Stage 1, slipped to 6th on Stage 2, then finished 2nd on the final stage to end 3rd overall. Inus du Preez and Lood Goosen recorded their best result on Stage 3 and finished 5th overall.
Details of the brand’s other partnerships are available on the Toyota Community Sponsorships page of the Toyota South Africa website.
Supplied by MotorPress (Refilwe Ramatlhodi Ndhlovu, Manager: Corporate Communication & Special Projects, Toyota South Africa)
This story is based on aggregated news, press release(s) or other sources and was prepared with the help of AI tools, which can make mistakes. Prices, specifications, general information and availability may change, so confirm the details with the manufacturer, other news sources or a dealer.
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