Seven national champions crowned at the Zwartkops Raceway

This year’s National Extreme Festival was concluded at the Zwartkops Raceway near Pretoria on Saturday, with seven champions crowned.

The premier title was not among them, with Robert Wolk (Chemical Logistics BMW 128Ti) having tied down the overall SA Touring Car Championship prior to the meeting.

The Touring Car races still carried the day’s top billing, with the opening heat won by Saood Variawa (Gazoo Toyota Corolla). He was chased to the flag by Anthony Pretorius (OMP Toyota Corolla) and Julian van der Watt (Chemical Logistics Toyota Corolla).

Already crowned champion Wolk finished fourth, ahead of Andrew Schofield (FlySafair BMW 128Ti).

The Gazoo Toyota Corollas of Michael van Rooyen and Nathi Msimanga retired after trying to occupy the same piece of tarmac in the circuit’s hairpin bend.

Race two was red-flagged on its opening lap, due to two separate crashes.

Dominic Dias (Turn 1 Insurance SupaPolo), Brad Liebenberg (Sparco Starlet SupaHatch) and Calvin Dias (Chemi SupaPolo) all walked away from mangled cars.

After the restart, Wolk went on to win the last heat of the season, ahead of Van Rooyen, Pretorius and Nathi Msimanga (Gazoo Toyota Corolla).

Keegan Campos (Campos Transport SupaPolo) and Jonathan Mogotsi (VW Motorsport SupaPolo) had to fight for the year’s SupaPolo title.

Campos won the opening race from Tate Bishop (Angri SupaPolo), Mogotsi and Jason Campos (Turn 1 SupaPolo).

When race two eventually started after the two crashes, Mogotsi needed a second place behind Campos to become champion.

That was exactly what he produced, finishing second behind Campos, plus ahead of Bishop and Sa’aad Variawa (Toyota Starlet SupaCup).

Jagger Robertson (Liqui Moly Mygale) won the opening Investchem F1600 race, to snatch the year’s national title. He was chased over the line by Karabo Malemela (KMFT Mygale), KC Ensor-Smith (African Heating Mygale) and Alex Vos (DV Building Mygale).

Malemala won race two, followed by Vos, Robertson and Ensor-Smith.

Arnold Neveling (Bobcat Audi R8 GT3) won the first Dunlop Extreme Supercar race, to take the year’s national title.

He was followed by Aldo Scribante (Scribante Concrete Lamborghini Huracan), Silvio Scribante  (Cemza Lamborghini Huracan) and Charl Arangies (Stradale Porsche 911 GT3 Cup).

Neveling won race two as well, chased to the flag by Jonathan du Toit (Trans Africa Racing Lamborghini Huracan), Arangies and Gianni Giannoccaro (BISC Transport Nismo GT3).

Rory Atkinson (Industry Petroleum Polo) took the opening Aston Energy Polo Cup race.

Second, clinching the season’s title en route, was Jason Loosemore (Security Fencing Polo), followed by Charl Smalberger (Sabertek Polo) and Hannes Scheepers (VCSA Polo).

Atkinson, Loosemore and Smalberger filled the race two podium as well, ahead of Kyle Visser (Rooki Polo Vivo).

Clinton Seller (King Price Extreme ZX10) won both the SunBet Kawasaki ZX10 Masters heats from AJ Venter (Vault Markets ZX10), Damion Purificati (Amalgum Welding ZX10) and Hein McMahon (K9 Law ZX10).

That was enough to make him this year’s champion.

Dawie van der Merwe (Bucketlist Toyota 86) won the Gazoo Racing Cup heats from Niko Zafiris (Bucketlist Toyota 86) and Dylan Pragji (Bucketlist Toyota 86).

Sean Nurse (Gazoo Toyota Corolla) took the Media category from Riaan Esterhuizen (Gazoo Toyota Corolla) and The Citizen’s Jaco van der Merwe (Gazoo Toyota Corolla).

Paul de Vos (Toyota Yaris) won the Yaris discipline from Theo Brits (MMI Menlyn Toyota) and Mario da Sousa (Motus Toyota Yaris).

Judd Bertholdt (Sizanani Plastics Polo Vivo) took the first VW Rookie Cup race from Uzair Khan (TSS Polo Vivo) and Dhivyen Naidoo (Production X Polo Vivo).

 Naidoo won race two ahead of Khan and Josh Moore (Fleet Dynamics Polo Vivo).

The next event at Zwartkops will be the final round of the 2024 Regional Extreme Festival on Saturday, 16 November. 

Andre’ de Kock

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