Summarize

One second. That’s all that separates Astron Energy Polo Cup leaders Nathan Victor and Jason Loosemore at the top of the points table heading to Zwartkops’ 18 May third round Extreme Festival races. It’s however far more consistent at each end of the Astron Energy Polo Cup experience table as Volkswagen Motorsport driver Kyle Visser easily heads the rookies, and Wayne Masters comfortably tops the Masters class leaderboard. 

The championship table is however super tight at the top. Cape Town racer Nathan Victor’s Summit Racing Polo leads the way with two wins, two seconds, and a trio of bonus points for pole positions and fastest race laps. His Richards Bay title rival Jason Loosemore’s tally is all but identical, except that Jason has a second and a third place in his Security Fencing & Alarms Team Red Polo versus Victor’s two runners-up slots. So there’s quite literally a second in it!  

Next up, just four points separate the consistent Ethan Coetzee and his third placed JRT Racing Experience Polo, and the ever-improving Mo Karodia’s Fast 5 Motorsport car sitting fourth in the chase. Both these youngsters have come on in leaps and bounds over the past few Polo Cup seasons, but they have nowhere to hide in the championship. Top rookie, Cape Town Volkswagen Motorsport driver Kyle Visser sits just three points behind Karodia as he rapidly finds more confidence.

Gqeberha lad Jeandre Marais has shown steady form to sit sixth in his Syrabix Team Red entry, but Charl Smalberger’s championship position defies his real pace. Smalberger is the one most likely to cause a stir at home at Zwartkops after a season to forget so far in his Sabertek Polo Cup. Charl was indeed the man responsible for snatching that vital second place away from Loosemore at Kyalami, and he is keen for far more of that, and more.

Team Red driver Roshaan Goodman has been quietly getting on with it in seventh, while it’s been an Astron Energy Polo Cup baptism of fire Dainfern Dental Doctor Hannes Scheepers, and AF Fans Team Red lass Tyler Robinson is desperate to put her totally forgettable season start behind her. Racing Spirit lad Nirav Singh is getting the hang of Polo Cup next up, while Pierluigi Muzzulini is looking forward to stepping up in his second Polo Cup meeting aboard his FSS International entry.

Racing behind the young guns, the over-50 year old Astron Energy Polo Cup Masters will provide their own thrills and spills as leader Wayne Masters protects his advantage aboard his Alpha ESS Polo. Double race winner last time out, Masters benefited from chief rival and opening meeting double winner John Kruger’s Habot Performance Lubricants Polo hitting trouble last time out. Both Masters and Kruger’s sons, Keagan and Jeff are former Polo Cup winners by the way, and Jeff a double champion.

Kruger’s woes have allowed Charl’s dad, Derick Smalberger to nick the Masters championship second in his Sabertek entry, but he has more than enough to worry about on his tail, too. Mike Barbaglia’s PABAR car, lady racer Elna Croeser’s ATE Brakes entry, Luigi Ferro in his second Alpha ESS Polo Cup, Johan Gouws’ Keller Williams machine and Elio Muzzulini’s FSS International Polo are all ready to pounce.

So, race fans can be guaranteed of epic Astron Energy Polo Cup action at the tight and twisty Raceway, which always delivers blistering racing. Saturday 18 May should be no different. See you at Zwartkops!