Summarize

Dunlop crowned its first regional racing champions of 2025, when Lendl Jansen wrapped up the DOE Formula Vee title and Renier Smith clinched the BMW M Performance Parts Series at Red Star Raceway last weekend. Both of them scored double titles at Red Star. Dunlop’s other two regional classes, the V8 Supercars and ATE VW Challenge will however go down to the wire at the Gauteng Northern Regions Extreme Festival presented by Coca-Cola at Zwartkops on 8 November. 

After a season of ups and downs, it’s all going down to the wire in the Dunlop V8 Supercars. Another tight encounter at Red Star sees Warren Lombard and his Mustang take all of a two point advantage to Zwartkops over Lumina rival Thomas Reib after a season that has ebbed and flowed all the way. Never ignore Terry Wilford, however. He’s fought his way into albeit mathematical contention. Although all Lombard needs do, to cut Terry out of the picture, is secure another Dunlop Pole Position point in Pretoria.

The Dunlop-shod ATE VW Challenge heads to the Zwartkops final with three drivers still very much in that title hunt. Class C young gun Adriaan de Beer and Class B leader Stuart Mack both won both races off their Dunlop pole positions at Red Star, to head to the Zwartkops finale separated by just two points. And second in Class C, Bryce Pillay is close enough and ready to pick up any pieces. Albeit out of the overall title fight, Class A youngster Jayden Goosen basically has one hand on the top class prize after another double win at Red Star. Ian Walker however took the pole position point and Dunlop pole award in Delmas.

The Dunlop Pole Position point, and second and third in the two races, was enough for Lendl Jansen to clinch his second DOE Formula Vee title on the trot at Red Star. Race 1 winner Gert van den Berg has likewise done enough to secure the championship second, but it will be close behind them for third between dad Peter and sons Vaughn and Brandon Hills at the Zwartkops finale.

Class B driver Renier Smith has also clinched the 2025 BMW M Performance Parts Series racing on Dunlop tyres. Class A leader Leon Loubser is not quite done in second. He has C leader Eddie Rodrigues close behind in third, who is in turn one point clear of top D man Bernard De Gouveia. Who also has class rival Andre van Vuuren far too close to comfort. Sixth overall, Salvi Gualtieri is ahead in Class C, with Shaun Dodd leading Class F. Red Star winner, Paulo de Gouveia, Anton Pommersheim and Bennie Luyt took the Class A, B and C poles, and De Gouveia, Rodrigues and Henry Platt took the Dunlop pole positions in Classes D, E and F.

Also running at Red Star, the National Investchem MSA4 wings and Dunlop slicks single seaters entertained. Leader KC Ensor-Smith took the Dunlop pole money before he and title rival Mikel Bezuidenhout shared the race wins. MSA4 comes to a head two weeks before the regionals but also at Zwartkops at the National Festival presented by Coca-Cola finals on Saturday 25 October. Ensor-Smith takes a five point advantage to Pretoria over Bezuidenhout, with Renzo Ribeiro, Shrien Naidoo, and Karabo Malemela in a tight tussle for third.

“Congratulations to our first Dunlop Northern Regions Extreme Festival champions of 2025 in  Renier Smith and Lendl Jansen!” Dunlop Tyres Marketing Manager Joanne de Freitas concludes. “Now we look forward to who comes out on top of the other two classes at Zwartkops on 8 November, but not before we crown all our Dunlop National champions, also at Zwartkops on 25 October. Be there!”