Summarize

Jason Loosemore heads to Killarney International Raceway looking for a double victory to wrap up the 2024 South African National Astron Energy Polo Cup championship on Saturday, 21 September. Not that it’s all that simple with a wild field of rivals all over his back, but a double win would wrap it up for the Richards Bay oval track convert. It’s tighter in the Astron Energy Polo Masters, where Wayne Masters has Derick Smalberger a little too close for comfort, while Volkswagen rookie Kyle Visser is keen to upset that whole darn applecart at his home track.

Championship leader Loosemore has been both fast and consistent throughout the season, winning six of the eleven races so far and finishing on the podium every race to sit a very comfy 34 points clear of his closest rival in the chase. So to add six points to that tally would clinch it at Killarney’s triple-header weekend. But then there’s always the final round to wrap it up at Zwartkops, should he need to. There’s however a wild pack of South Africa’s finest car racing youngsters snapping at Loosemore’s heels in his Security Fencing & Alarms Team Red Polo, to try and prevent the inevitable this weekend. 

That lynch mob is headed by Jozi youngster Ethan Coetzee, who leapfrogged into second in the title chase with a maiden and double victory last time out in his JRT Racing Experience Polo at East London. Killarney home star Nathan Victor is one man looking for revenge in his own back yard after slipping to third in his Summit Racing car, while Gauteng Fast 5 lad Mo Karodia impressed last time at Killarney and he’s also lurking with intent.

It's all even for fifth in the chase. Runaway Volkswagen Motorsport rookie leader Kyle Visser has made it known that he wants to win his first Astron Energy Polo Cup overall at home at Killarney. Visser has his championship work cut out however, since Charl Smalberger, who returned to Polo Cup after a long time away in his Sabertek machine, has found a little luck following a wretched few races.

Close behind them, ever-improving Gqeberha racer Jeandre Marais’ Syrabix Team Red car is ready to pounce. Team Red driver Roshaan Goodman has quietly been picking up the points in eighth ahead of Dainfern Dental rookie doctor Hannes Scheepers, and luckless AF Fans Team Red lass Tyler Robinson. Her championship tenth is a wholly unfair reflection of her impressive speed. Nirav Singh’s Racing Spirit entry and FSS lad Pierluigi Muzzulini close off the Astron Energy Polo Cup young gun grid.

Wayne Masters meanwhile leads the Astron Energy Polo Masters title race, where his double win aboard the Alpha FSS Polo last time out eased a little pressure. But Derick Smalberger is still way too close for comfort in his Sabertek car, and John Kruger’s Habot Lubricants Polo is still in with a shout too. Other Masters’ drivers to look out for include PABAR man Mike Barbaglia and Luigi Ferro’s second Alpha FSS entry in their own fight for fourth, Chris Dale’s Dale Automation Polo, quick ATE Brakes lady Elna Croeser, and FSS dad Elio Muzzulini.

Cape Town fans have a triple bite of the Astron Energy Polo Cup apple at Killarney’s Extreme Festival races on Saturday. Sounds like a cracking prospect for some proper entertainment for anyone looking for a bit of fun in the Cape this weekend.