Summarize

He may have only won two of the six races so far this season, but double champion Robert Wolk has piled on the South African Touring Cars points where it’s mattered. So he has an iron grip on the 2024 championship table leading into Saturday 29 June’s midseason round at Aldo Scribante, leaving his rivals with it all to do, if they want to stop him from taking another title.

Wolk has been super consistent aboard his Chemical Logistics WCT BMW 128ti TC to allow him to establish a handy lead over another race winner, WTC engineering teammate Julian van der Watt’s Investchem Volkswagen Golf GTI TC. Toyota Gazoo Racing Corolla hatchback duo, the troubled Saood Variawa has won twice, and Michael van Rooyen once. But they have also had their fair share of drama en route.

Two more Corolla drivers, Nathi Msimanga’s third Gazoo entry, and rookie privateer Anthony Pretorius’ OMP LTR sedan have also impressed. Fellow rookie Andy Schofield’s FlySafair Chemical Logistics BMW 128ti TC is fresh off a podium third last time out, so it’s super competitive in the South African Touring Cars. Perhaps too competitive on occasion, it seems, as the trail of incidents and accidents have proven. All of which only goes to prove this premier series’ great propensity to entertain.

The South African Touring Cars of course offer double the entertainment with the SATC SupaCup racing off its own grid behind. On that front, Aldo Scribante is Volkswagen Motorsport’s home race, which is great news for local fans, considering that its drivers Jonathan Mogotsi and rookie teammate Charl Visser lead the championship home following a positive start to their season.

Not that their advantage necessarily means the VW boys are home and dry. In fact, far from it. Their closest rival Keegan Campos for instance scored a double victory at the Aldo Scribante round for Campos Transport last year. And then there’s multiple, and reigning SupaCup champion Bradley Liebenberg, who has his heart fully set on beating all the Volkswagen SupaPolos sooner, rather than later in his lone Gazoo Toyota SupaStarlet. 

Don’t forget Jason Campos out to return to winning ways in his Turn 1 Insurance SupaPolo, or Angri lad Tate Bishop or David Franco’s Graphix Supply version chasing their maiden SupaCup wins. Add Kalex lass Karah Hill, rookie Dean Venter’s VDN Auto M-Town car Nicolas Vostanis, and Masters duo Jean-Pierre van der Walt’s Platinum Wheels and Robbie Franco’s Graphix entries. And will Kyalami winner Calvin Dias make the trip with his Chemi SupaPolo?

So, the South African Touring Cars will be one of the premier attractions when the National Extreme Festival visits Aldo Scribante in Gqeberha on Saturday 29 June to give Nelson Mandela Bay race fans something really special to look forward to. Diarise it now if you live anywhere close!