Summarize

Volkswagen Motorsport’s Rookie Cup once again thoroughly impressed as young racing stars Dhivyen Naidoo and Jayden Goosen shared out the race wins in a pack of kart racing heroes, but circuit racing rookies at the Aldo Scribante Extreme Festival in Gqeberha on Saturday. 

The weekend commenced with Durbanite Dhivyen Naidoo setting a blistering qualifying lap claimed pole position, half a second clear of fellow Durban driver Uzair Khan. Jozi lads Jayden Goosen and Judd Bertholdt were next up from Gqeberha home hero Josh Moore, with Rookie Cup trainers Daniel Rowe and Matt Merton among them to spice up the action. 

Naidoo made no mistakes as he made off up front in the first race as Goosen overcame Khan and settled into second. Behind them, Khan came under pressure from Bertholdt, who duly took the place to leave Uzair to fend off the charging Moore, as Naidoo won from Goosen Bertholdt and Khan.

Dhivyen Naidoo once again made a great start in heat 2. This one would however prove a tougher nut to crack with the Volkswagen Rookie Cup pack quite literally able to be covered by a proverbial blanket and the positions behind changing literally by the lap. Goosen and Bertholdt were the men on the move as they went ahead of Naidoo.

Naidoo was having none of it however as he pushed back, with Khan and Moore in close attendance. Then Naidoo slowed suddenly and dropped back, leaving Goosen comfortably leading Bertholdt, Khan, Naidoo and Moore. The gap closed up, but that’s how they finished. Race 1 winner Dhivyen Naidoo had however done enough to claim the overall win for the day from Jayden Goosen, Judd Bertholdt Uzair Khan and Josh Moore.

“Our Volkswagen Rookie Cup racers delivered the sort of hot, close racing action that we expect from our pros today,” Volkswagen Head of Motorsport Mike Rowe concluded. “There was just a tenth of a second between the top two as the entire grid impressed us immensely at Aldo Scribante today. Our young lions continue to show the immense value of our Volkswagen Rookie Cup academy program.” 

Volkswagen Rookie Cup is a vital step up to the main circuit from kart racing. It schools its cadets on every aspect racing every real-world competitive raceday. The academy also covers it all from driver fitness to physical and mental preparation, teamwork, data analysis and even dealing with television and media, while coaching them on every racing aspect.

Young drivers interested can email driving@vwsa.co.za for further information on joining the Volkswagen Rookie Cup.