Chinese automaker JAC Motors has become the latest to set a South African record. This comes after its T9 2l CTi bakkie lapped the Gerotek testing facility for 24 hours, covering 4 084km. The previous record was set by Isuzu in 2010, but JAC Motors reported that this was a far less co-ordinated effort, using just one vehicle and a small support grew.
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Behind the wheel were four experienced racing drivers – Michele Habig, Setshaba Mashigo, Phillip Kekana and Daniel Barbosa – all of who are also driving instructors. Despite not having a dedicated pit team or advanced refuelling systems, the team pushed through with minimal delays, relying on the T9’s consistency and strength.
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Isuzu’s record, also set at Gerotek, stood at 4 063km, with an average speed of 169.3km/h using its KB300 TDi. Before that, Toyota held the record with its Hilux, reaching 3 818km at an average of 159.1km/h in 2003.
JAC’s T9 has now outpaced both in 2025, with the Chinese automaker stating that the T9’s 2l turbo-diesel engine operated superlatively. The bakkie maintained high speeds for over 1 350 laps of the circuit, with an average fuel consumption of 16.5l/100 km. It ran on Continental CrossContact ATR tyres and used Engen’s 10W40 CK-4 full synthetic oil, which has recently been rolled out across JAC’s vehicle line-up to improve thermal stability and reduce engine wear.
JAC Motors South Africa CEO Karl-Heinz Göbel says the record is more than just a bragging point — it’s a real-world demonstration of the brand’s reliability. Since arriving in South Africa in 2017, JAC has built a network of over 70 dealers across Southern Africa and now supports its T9 with a five-year/200 000km warranty and a five-year/100 000km service plan.
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