Summarize

It’s back to the exuberance of youth versus the treachery of experience when the ATE VW Challenge visits Kyalami’s Blockbuster Extreme Festival on Saturday 12 April. Perhaps even more relevant, can the rest topple dominant trio, Jayden Goosen, Stuart Mack, and Mitch Coetzee on the big day?

In among the highlights of its racing year, the regional championship ATE VW Challenge joins the National classes at the Kyalami’s Blockbuster Extreme Festival presented by Coca-Cola. Last time out, teenage karting prodigy Jayden Goosen took a maiden double and Class A victory aboard his turbo 2-litre Ferro Energia AA Certified Polo when he narrowly beat veteran Wayne Masters’ naturally aspirated 2-litre Performance Master Polo at Zwartkops. This time Masters will be out for revenge over his young rival.

Goosen and Masters will also have their work cut out by the likes of Elna Croeser in her ATE Brakes car, which is due for a turbo upgrade soon. Two more young guns, Dean Ross’ Norbrake Distributors car from Judd Bertholdt’s Sizanani Plastics version will also be after their share of glory. Another veteran, Mike Barbaglia makes his ATE VW Challenge Class A comeback in his Pabar Polo and Class B graduate Ian Walker’s progress in his Mello Veio car will be watched with interest.

It's all about stopping champion Stuart Mack’s only turbo litre AutoZone Polo in the Class B battle. Seasoned racer Stuart is deep in another experience versus youth battle with 2-litre gang, CSOL lad Anthony Lessing, Challenge sophomore Francis Aldrich’s VaporWorx Polo, Chris Davison’s Generator Services Polo and Martin de Beer’s MLP car. They have the additional Kyalami frustration of returning Dewald Theron’s Mweza car and PSA lass Nicole Lombard, and Historic convert Stuart Konig on his Challenge debut in his Northern Bolt & Tool Polo.  

While Mitch Coetzee was another older guy to star in Class C in his ECR Vivo last time out, the biggest Brat Pack news is Michael Zapheriou’s return a year on from his horrific Kyalami accident. Expect that Ukwazi lad Adriaan de Beer, Bryce Pillay, Historic refugee Stuart Konig’s Northen Bolt Vivo, Cody and Kyle Petersen and Dimitri Zapheriou’s Insurisk cars to be chasing a little youthful revenge. Another seasoned campaigner, Philip Croeser’s ATE version, Rezcom driver Dino Smit and Shalom Racing newcomers Justin Gower, and Nolan and Nathan Schoeman are also all in the C mix.

The ATE VW Challenge practices on Thursday, qualifies on Friday afternoon and races at 10h05 and 17h05 on Saturday 12 April at the Blockbuster Extreme Festival presented by Coca-Cola. See you at Kyalami!