The coming weekend’s (11-12 April) Extreme Festival Presented By Coca-Cola will see the national championship battles continue at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit from the scene set in Round 1.
This roster will headline the weekend’s combined National & Regional Extreme Festival Presented by Coca-Cola Double Header, and there is also a much-anticipated new edition to South African Circuit Racing.
2024 saw the announcement and first demonstration of the Investchem MSA4 Championship, which will have its inaugural outing as a single-seater replacement series for the Investchem Formula 1600 Championship. Powered by Volkswagen engines, the latest brainchild of Ian Schofield is set to build on the success of its predecessor, which saw a host of graduates continue to excel both locally and abroad.
KC Ensor-Smith (African Heating), Karabo Malemela (KMFT Morita), Ewan Holtzhausen (Total Plastics), and Alex Vos (DV Building Supplies) are just some of the familiar Formula 1600 names that will take to the grid in the new series. Kian Spies (Corsa Dei Gemelli), Adriaan Nel (Central Cycles), and Hannah Lee Daniel (76 Legacy Motorsport) are some of the new drivers who will take to the grid.
The Astron Energy Polo Cup at South Africa’s most iconic circuit is always an exciting prospect. Mohammed Karodia (Fast 5 Motorsport) has 52 points and holds a two-point lead over Ethan Coetzee (Ethan Coetzee Racing). Hannes Scheepers (Dainfern Dental Studio) and Tyler Robinson (AF Fans) are just two other frontrunners to watch out for.
Defending Astron Energy Polo Cup Masters champion Wayne Masters (Performance Masters) holds the lead after Round 1, while John Kruger (Habot Lubricants) and Derick Smalberger (Sabertek) will look to challenge for his top spot. Masters, with 56 points, leads Kruger and Smalberger by three and seven points, respectively.
There have been a lot of developments behind the scenes in the South African Touring Cars Championship. Points leader Anthony Pretorius will not be back behind the wheel of the BMW 128ti in which he won both races in Round 1. This will see Keegan Campos, who competed in the SATC SupaCup in the past four seasons, move onto the South African Touring Cars grid. Siyabonga Mankonkwana is replacing Mandla Mdakane in the Toyota Corolla, while reigning Investchem Formula 1600 champion Jagger Robertson, who made his debut in Round 1, has committed to a full season in the Sparco Volkswagen Golf 8 GTI. After missing Round 1, SVR Toyota Corolla teammates Saood Variawa and Nathi Msimanga will also return to the grid.
Trailing Pretorius by five points, Michael van Rooyen (SVR Steelworks Toyota Corolla) will be the driver to beat heading into Round 2, with Robertson a further six points adrift.
Tate Bishop (ANGRi Racing Volkswagen Polo SupaCup) heads things up in the SATC SupaCup. His 42 points see him seven clear of Charl Visser (Charl Engineering Volkswagen Polo SupaCup) while defending champion Jonathan Mogotsi (Volkswagen Motorsport Polo SupaCup) trails the latter by seven points. Niko Zafiris (Lee Thompson Racing Volkswagen Polo SupaCup) and Muhammad Wally (Volkswagen Polo SupaCup) are two exciting newcomers to the series.
Former SATC SupaCup champion Brad Liebenberg is now at the top of another points table. After his first Extreme SuperCars Driven By Dunlop outing in Round 1, the Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO driver holds 30 points from his hat-trick of wins and a two-point lead over Ant Blunden (SAJCO Audi R8), with Kris Budnik (Bucketlist Composites Dodge Viper) trailing the latter by two points.
Liebenberg also heads up the GT3 Class from Charl Arangies (Stradale Motorsport Porsche 991.2 GT3R) and Jonathan du Toit (Trans Africa Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO). In Class A, Budnik leads Franco Scribante, who will not participate in Round 2, and Mariius Jackson (MJR Motorsport Audi R8 LMS GT3). Blunden will head up the Class B battle, while Uli Sanne (G&H Transport BMW Z4) will be joined in Class C by Nicky Dicks (Curvent Airconditioners BMW E36 M3)
The Gazoo Racing Cup Driven By Netstar will close out the National Roster’s portion of the programme.
Jason Coetzee’s double win in Round 1 sees him four points clear of Mikel Bezuidenhout in the GR 86 Class, but the latter will not compete, focusing on his Investchem MSA4 debut instead. Seven-point Kent Swartz will be one of the drivers looking to challenge Coetzee’s lead.
Devon Scott, who won both GR Corolla races in Cape Town, is also not on the entry list, with Mario de Sousa looking to take the lead.
Nabil Abdool will look to build on his GR Yaris momentum after winning both the first races. He holds a four-point lead over Kyle Kock, with Phuti Mpyane third.
Tickets for Friday and Saturday are available via Computicket. More information regarding the event, such as the programme, etc., will be available closer to the event on the Extreme Festival Presented By Coca-Cola website. A handy mobile device-friendly event link portal has also been created for easy access to important links and downloads.
Published by: Reynard Gelderblom
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