Summarize

With inaugural champion Kyle Visser signed and sealed for his rookie season of Astron Energy Polo Cup as reward for his title, the Volkswagen Rookie Cup is poised for its second season starting at the Cape Town Killarney International Raceway’s National Extreme festival opener on Saturday 16 March. 

Visser claimed his prize by topping an impressive inaugural season, but Rookie Cup is going bigger and better for 2024, with  three more races now visiting more tracks across the country. The 2024 Rookie Cup champion will once again earn a Volkswagen Polo Cup drive for 2025.

Five Rookies are signed up for the 2024 Cup with preparation and training already well under way for their big debut day at Killarney. Jayden Goosen, Josh Moore, Dhivyen Naidoo, Judd Bertholdt and Uzair Khan have all carved out racing careers in karting and take the big step up on Saturday. Rookie Cup instructors Matt Merton and Daniel Rowe will race with them to observe, note and mentor their pupils. 

A Volkswagen Motorsport initiative open to young racer drivers between 14 and 16 years old with a valid MSA licence, Rookie Cup is designed to deliver a seamless transition for that all-important step up from karting into main circuit racing. Rookie Cup works as a motor racing academy and goes far beyond best racing lines, perfect brake markers and racecraft, with recruits trained in every aspect of racing with an eye to a career on track. 

Rookie Cup also trains drivers on fitness and best physical and mental preparation, teamwork and collaborating with race technicians and the crew, data analysis and working with television, the media, and every other racing career aspect. To that end, Rookie Cup drivers take expert guidance from Volkswagen Motorsport professional champion drivers Matthew Merton, Daniel Rowe and Volkswagen Motorsport factory pilot Jonathan Mogotsi taking expert care of every aspect.

The Rookie Cup season spreads over six rounds, three of which are on National Extreme Festival dates, with the others at endurance and regional races. The endurance race gives the Rookies more seat and longer stints behind the wheel to help develop their concentration levels and consistency, lap after lap.

Young drivers interested in learning more and joining the Volkswagen Rookie Cup can email driving@vwsa.co.za with the subject line ‘Ref: VW Rookie Cup, and Volkswagen’s dedicated Rookie Cup team will be in touch. The Rookies already committed for 2024 meanwhile commence their season under the National Extreme Festival spotlight at Killarney on 16 March. Start your engines!