What Blockbuster Extreme Festival Report
Where Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit
When Saturday 12 April 2025
Community Gauteng Regional
Age before beauty in Kyalami ATE VW Challenge
The ATE Brakes VW Challenge delivered two cracking races at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit’s Blockbuster Extreme Festival presented by Coca-Cola on Saturday. But it was an old favourite who came out on top as the young men and ladies looked on. Wayne Masters took the double on the day; Stuart Mack remains unbeaten in Class B and Bryce Pillay took Class C on debut.
The battle between the ages went in favour of the treachery of experience as Wayne Masters put his Performance Masters Polo on pole position, getting one back on young opening round winner, Jayden Goosen’s Ferro Energia AA Certified version. Former Class C champion Ian Walker was third in his Mellow Veio car from Challenge lady Elna Croeser’s ATE Brakes car, Norbrake lad Dean Ross and PABAR man Mike Barbaglia.
Another experienced campaigner, Stuart Mack put his Autozone Tour Plan Polo on the B pole to continue his domination of the middle class over Francis Aldrich’s Vaporworkx car, a much improved Nicole Lombard’s PSA Africa machine and Mweza Trans regular Dewald Theron. Chris Davison’s Generator Services car followed from rookie Jonathan Konig’s Northern Bolt & Tool entry and MLP driver Martin de Beer.
Michael Zapheriou sensationally returned to put his Insurisk Vivo Class C on pole position in his first outing, precisely a year after he was fighting for his life following a horrific Kyalami accident. Adriaan de Beer’s Ukwazi car lined up second ahead of Polo Cup racer Bryce Pillay, Dimitri Zapheriou’s Insurisk car, rookie Stuart Konig’s Northern Bolt & Tool Vivo, ECR man Mitch Coetzee, Philip Croeser’s ATE machine and rookie Shalom trio, Nolan Schoeman, Justin Gower, and Nathan Schoeman.
Ian Walker got the jump off the second row when the lights went out. But it wasn’t very long before Wayne Masters out-braked his upstart rival and then simply streaked off into the distance. Jayden Goosen later found his way past Walker, who ended third from Barbaglia and Croeser. Stuart Mack once again dominated Class B ahead of Aldrich, Davison, Lombard, de Beer, and Jono Konig.
The Class C Brat Pack delivered a wonderful scrap as Bryce Pillay came through from third on the grid to take a debut ATE VW Challenge win. Adriaan de Beer fought the delighted Michael Zapheriou off for third with Stuart Konig next from Dimitri Zapheriou, class veterans Mitch Coetzee and Philip Croeser, and rookies, Nolan and Nathan Schoeman and Justin Gower.
Fast fading light proved little trouble for Wayne, who delivered another ATE Brakes VW Challenge Masters class in the second heat. The old man basically taught the chasing pack a thing or two as he romped on to an untroubled double for the day. His young pretenders, Jayden Goosen minimised the damage in second again ahead of Ian Walker, clearly enjoying his new Class A machine, Dean Ross and Elna Croeser.
Class B proved another runaway victory for champion Stuart Mack, followed once again by Francis Aldrich and an exhilarating battle for the final podium step between Nicole Lombard and Dewald Theron. The Cape Town lass ultimately raced to third, her best result since joining the ATE VW Challenge. Chris Davison was fifth from Martin de Beer.
Bryce Pillay meanwhile did the Class C double from Michael Zapheriou, who fought his way back from fourth. Stuart Konig rounded off the class C podium ahead of Adriaan de Beer, Dimitri Zapheriou, Mitch Coetzee, Nolan and Nathan Schoeman, Philip Croeser and Justin Gower.
So Wayne Masters took Class A and overall honours from Jayden Goosen and Ian Walker, Stuart Mack won the Class B day from Francis Aldrich and a delighted Nicole Lombard, and Bryce Pillay beat comeback king Michael Zapheriou and Stuart Konig to overall Class C honours. The ATE Brakes VW Challenge returns to action at Zwartkops Raceway’s Extreme Festival presented by Coca-Cola on Saturday 17 May.
*ATE Brakes VW Challenge salutes its co-sponsors ATS Motorsport Supplies, Dunlop Tyres, Norbrake Distributors, Autozone, van der Linde Developments, Origen Oil, Clean Renewables, Insurisk, Pabar, and The Specialist Pest Control and Cleaning.
Issued on behalf of ATE VW Challenge
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