The opening round of the 2025 Extreme Festival attracted a total of 100 entries on Saturday 8 March 2025 and the Killarney International Raceway welcomed the visitors with beautiful summer sunshine. With 53% of the entries either Volkswagen, or associated with Volkswagen there can be little doubt as to which manufacturer is the top supporter of South African circuit racing.
Sunbet ZX10 Masters 2×12 Laps
In September 2024 there were twenty entries and though this was down to sixteen now the racing on track was quite entertaining for second place. At the front of the field there was simply no stopping Clinton Seller and his 1A King Price Extreme Kawasaki ZX10R. Bright and colourful this combination was simply from another planet as he cruised away from everyone with consummate ease.
Veteran Graeme van Breda finished second overall for the day aboard his 41B Stefanutti Stocks Kawasaki ZX10R and in third spot aboard his 42C Tyremart East London Kawasaki ZX10R. Hein McMahon initially the thorn in their sides aboard his 4A K9 Law Enforcement Kawasaki ZX10R but he would go down in heat 2. David Veringa taking fourth overall on his colourful 117B Vino Logs Kawasaki ZX10R and in fifth it was the 15B Steel Monkey Clothing machine of James Barson. Adriaan van Dalen completing the top six aboard his 469 VAG Automotive Centre Kawasaki ZX10R.
Johan le Roux seventh on his 44C machine with Sfiso Themba eighth on his 63B Wakahina Racing entry, Pieter Delport ninth on the 110ACarlin Learning Institutions entry and the top ten completed by Keith Agliotti on the 31A Ridgway Racebar Kawasaki ZX10R.
Clint Seller simply in a class of his own consistently lapping in the 1min 13 bracket in extremely hot and dry conditions.
VW Rookie Cup 2×10 Laps
Giovanni Fiorotto claimed overall honours on debut in the VW Rookie Cup with Uzair Khan second and Christopher Tait third after twenty laps. Luke Hill fourth, Josh Moore fifth and Mauro da Lux sixth.
Mauro won heat 2 but spoiled his day by going off in heat 1 whilst Uzair Khan won heat 1 but had to settle for 5th in Heat 2. All fairly inexperienced the youngsters are coached by veteran racers, but there is no substitute to real racing experience and the odd push and shove is inevitably going to liven up their season.
Extreme Supercars by Dunlop 3×12 Laps
Many a leading name missing from the sparse entry and new restrictions had Franco Scribante questioning the Extreme Supercar title and the dreaded breakout penalty still left a bitter taste as it certainly leaves a bitter taste.
Heat one saw the top four cars circulate in spectacular fashion. Watching these Supercars arrive at the entry to Pertamina Fastron is truly impressive as they brake from almost 290km/h whilst also trying to position for an attack on their opposition. By lap 5 Franco Scribante had fought his way through into the lead with Bradley Liebenberg second, Charl Arangies third and Jonathan du Toit fourth.
All four cars lapping in the 1min10 bracket and it is somewhat ironic that all had to somehow still keep an eye on the stopwatch in order to not be penalised for going too quick? Is the fastest driver not supposed to win? Ironically then that the only one of the four to not post a 1min09 time in qualifying should be penalised in the race.
Kris Budnik impressed with fifth spot in the 59B Dodge Viper V10 and he was followed home by Gianni Giannoccaro in the 15n GT3 G&H Transport McLaren MP4-12C.
Heat two again saw Franco Scribante battle his way into the lead, only to be penalised again. Bradley Liebenberg credited with a second race victory in the 12 GT3 Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo with Charl Arangies second in his new 86n GT3 Stradale Motorsport Porsche 991 GT3 and the leading 25A Scribante Porsche 997TT of Franco Scribante credited with third spot on paper. Kris Budnik fourth in the mean 59B Dodge Viper V10 and a somewhat second hand looking 34n GT3 Trans Africa Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo of Jonathan du Toit in fifth spot. Using the rear of the 991 Porsche as a brake tends to break a few panels but it looked wors than it was. Gianni Giannoccaro sixth in his 15n GT3 G&H Transport McLaren MP4-12C.
Heat three looked to be much of the same until the Scribante Porsche was parked with a broken sideshaft. Bradley Liebenberg crossing the line in first spot with a patched Lambo for Jonathan du Toit second and Charl Arangies third with Kris Budnik fourth, Paul Hil fifth in his 35 GT3 Kalex Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo 2 and in sixth it was Ricardo Giannoccaro in his 75 GT3 G&H Transport Mercedes AMG.
Overall a dominant debut win for Bradley Liebenberg on debut in the 12 GT3 Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo with Charl Arangies second in his new 86n GT3 Stradale Motorsport Porsche 991 GT3 Evo and Jonathan du Toit third in the 34n GT3 Trans Africa Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo. Kris Budnik impressive in fourth with his 59B Dodge Viper V10, Ricardo Giannoccaro fifth in the 75 GT3 G&H transport Mercedes AMG and the top six completed by Marius Jackson in his 80B MJR Motorsport Audi R8 LMS GT3.
Roy Obery the winner in class C with his 991 Porsche 991 GT3 Cup MR and in class D it was Jimmy Giannoccaro who claimed first spot in his 511 G&H Transport Porsche 911.
Astron Energy Polo Cup 3×8 Laps
No less than 15 of the 23 car entry managed to set a 1min26 lap during the first of three heats and at the front of the field there was little to choose from as Ethan Coetzee only put his 58 Polo in the lead on lap seven to win from Mohammed Karodia in the 25 Fast 5 Motorsport Polo. Hannes Scheepers third in his 23 Dainfern Dental Studio Polo and in fourth Nirav Singh in the silver 16 Kyalami Exhausts Polo. Rory Atkinson dropped from fifth to 13th with a lap to go and was then penalised to drop to 22nd. Tyler Robinson fourth in her 27 AF Fans Polo and the top six completed by hard working Kyle Visser in his 77 Charl Engineering Polo.
Heat two and Rory Atkinson claimed the win in the 2 Industry Petroleum Polo from Etrhan Coetzee, Mohammed Karodia, Hannes Scheepers, Kyle Visser and Tyler Robinson.
Heat three and it was Mohammed Karodia winning from Rory Atkinson, Tyler Robinson, Shiren Raipaul in his 14 Dubcorp Service Centre Polo, Hannes Scheepers and Ethan Coetzee.
Overall it was Mohammed Karodia who claimed top honours in the 25 Fast 5 Motorsport Polo and he was followed home by Ethan Coetzee in the 58 Polo and Hannes Scheepers third in the 23 Dainfern Dental Studio Polo. Tyler Robinson fourth in her 27 AF Fans Polo and Shiren Raipaul fifth in the 14 Dubcorp Service Centre Polo. The top six completed by Rory Atkinson in his 2 Industry Petroleum Polo.
Wayne Masters winning the masters category in his 4M Performance Masters Polo with John Kruger second in his 76M Habot Lubricants Polo and in third it was Derick Smalberger in his 55M Sabertek Polo. Mike Barbaglia fourth in his 13M Pabar Polo and he was followed by Roberto Franco in the 69M Graphix Supply World Polo and the top six completed by Gavin Ross in his 6M Polo.
Gazoo SA Racing Cup 2×8 Laps
F1600 single seater drivers Jason Coetzee (77) and Mikel Bezuidenhout (69) dominated heat one in their respective Toyota 86 whilst Khanya Ngwennya (72) surprised in third with Kent Swartz (58) fourth. Devon Scott (21 Toyota GR Yaris) worked his way through from 8th to fifth in the first of the GR Corolla entries. The top six completed by Mario de Sousa (27) in his GR Corolla.
Devon Scott claiming heat two from Jason Coetzee, Mikel Bezuidenhout, Kent Swartz, Mario de Sousa and Nabil Abdool (11 Toyota GR Yaris). De Sousa and Abdool breaking into the 1min25 bracket. Khanya Ngwennya was assisted into the Pertamina Fastron kitty litter but there were many mistakes made by the relatively inexperienced drivers in the various categories, fortunately none relating in serious damage.
SATC 7 Supacup 2×12 Laps
Anthony Pretorius opened his account with a heat one victory in the 60 GTC Chemical Logistics BMW 128Ti from Michael van Rooyen in the 16 GTC SVR Steelworks Toyota and Jagger Robertson in the 76 GTC Investchem VW Golf 8. Mandla Mdakane fourth in the 21 GTC Chemical logistics Toyota Corolla and in fifth it was Tate Bishop in the 94 Supacup VW Polo from sixth placed Charl Visser in his 33 Supacup Charl Engineering Polo.
Julian van der Watt retired his 42 GTC Chemical Logistics VW Golf 8 whilst the 8 GTC Fly Safair BMW 128Ti of Andrew Schofield only lasted six laps
Anthony Pretorius took heat two by just 0.063sec from Michael van Rooyen with Mandla Mdakane third. Jagger Robertson punted into the scenery in Pertamina Fastron. Tate Bishop fourth, having slipped past Charl Visser and in sixth it was Jonathan Mogotsi. Julian van der Watt tagged into Holas on lap one breaking the suspension on his Golf whilst an errant bonnet saw Andrew Schofield driving blind for a number of laps.
Overall order in GTC Anthony Pretorius winning from Michael van Rooyen and Mandla Mdakane. In the Supacup category a tight fight between local stars Tate Bishop from Charl Visser with Jonathan Mogotsi third, Jason Loosemore, Nicholaos Vostanis and Dawie van der Merwe.
André Bezuidenhout won the masters category in the 22 Perfect Circle Polo.
Investchem F1600 (Not Racing)
Absent from this meeting as the new F4 based cars will only be ready for Kyalami. Cannot recall a national race meeting without single seaters?
Published by: Patrick Vermaak
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