What Extreme Festival 2023 Round 5 Preview
Where East London Grand Prix Circuit
When Saturday 27 July 2024
Community South African National Championship
Motorsport aims to move back ahead in SupaCup
Volkswagen Motorsport heads to the second of the traditional coastal midseason Extreme Festival meetings determined on regaining the South African Supa Cup Championship lead at the daunting East London Grand Prix Circuit on Saturday 27 July. Teammates Jonathan Mogotsi and Charl Michael Visser sit second and third in the SupaCup chase with just six races left to run and both are keen to make up lost ground. Rookie teammate Kyle Visser also intends to score well again in both the Border Astron Energy Polo Cup races.
“A number of circumstances have led to Jonathan and Charl Michael slipping to second and third in the title chase, but all is certainly not lost,” Mike Rowe, Head of Volkswagen Motorsport explains. “We now look ahead to regaining a little lost ground as a team through the second half of the season. We are all determined to pull it off. Young Kyle Visser is also looking forward to defending his Astron Energy Polo Cup rookie lead following an up and down outing last time, so there’s much excitement en route to the Grand Prix Circuit.”
“We have some work to do to wrestle back that title lead over the coming races and it all starts this weekend at the East London Grand Prix Circuit,” Mogotsi said. “It may be a daunting racetrack with that long straight incorporating the flat out Potters Pass and a technical infield, but I have a good record there and took the overall East London SupaCup win last year. So it’s full focus on maximum points and bouncing back in the championship chase this weekend.”
Visser meanwhile closed off a four-race winning streak with a double Polo Cup victory en route to clinching his 2024 prize SupaCup drive at East London last year. He too loves the challenge of the beachside Border racetrack. “I have a pretty good recent record at the East London Grand Prix Circuit so I go there confident of another strong result,” Visser warned. “We are a strong, close team and we’re determined to deliver the best possible result.”
It was win or bust for Astron Energy Polo Cup rookie Kyle Visser last time out. He scored his best result yet in the opening heat before being forced to sit the second race out after taking ill between heats. “My plan is to keep on improving and to climb up the podium as the season progresses off my maiden third place last time out,” Visser suggested. “I’m in a tight three-way fight for fifth in the championship, but in a strong rookie class lead, so I have a little leeway to now chase a bit harder.”
“Friendly East London is always a great race weekend on a most historically significant track in front of a knowledgeable and involved crowd,” Mike Rowe, Head of Volkswagen Motorsport concluded. “Volkswagen Motorsport is determined to put on an exceptional show for them at the same time as delivering best possible results. We are ready!”
The East London Extreme Festival will be live streamed on https://extremefestival.co.za/live/.
Issued on behalf of Volkswagen Motorsport
Photography by: Andre Laubscher
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