Summarize

Saturday’s Red Star ATE VW Challenge may have delivered predictable results in Classes A and C as pole man Christopher Tait bounced back to liven up the A chase and Bryce Pillay similarly sailed to a Class C double win. But there was nothing predictable about Class B, where Jonathan Konig kept out of trouble while his young rivals got perhaps a little too physical out on track.

Qualifying in cool conditions on Saturday morning, Volkswagen Rookie Cup champion Christopher Tait previewed his intentions for the weekend with a compelling pole position in his King Price Extreme Polo over Ian Walker’s Mellow Velo version. Anthony Lessing’s Worx entry and Francis Aldrich were next up as Class A leader Joshua Moore started fifth alongside B champion Stuart Mack’s new Class A Autozone Polo, Class T lady Elna Croeser’s ATE Brakes entry and Dricus du Plessis.

In the Class B battle of the scions, former Group N and Production Cars champions’ sons, Sebastian Bouilliart put his Applied Heat Polo on pole from Keegan Nathan’s Nathan Motorsport machine, and a Dakar racer’s son, Max Corbett’s Century Racing version. Another young gun, Keyaan Dwomoh started fourth in the middle class from veteran Chris Davison’s GSi Generator Services car, Northern Bolt & Tool lad Jonathan Konig and reigning C and overall champion, Mpumalanga Laser man Martin De Beer.

Bryce Pillay headed the Class C pack in his Techtisa Designlab Matelico Profiling Vivo ahead of Roberto Cosani’s Eeziparts version, Stuart Konig’s Northern Bolt & Tool car, Dimitri Zapheriou and ATE Brakes man Phillip Croeser.

The was little trouble up front in heat 1. Christopher Tait stormed to a lights to flag victory over Anthony Lessing with Ian Walker taking third. Francis Aldrich kept Josh Moore at bay for fourth from Dricus du Plessis and Elna Croeser. If it was quiet up front, that certainly was not the case in the middle class where Class B appears to have picked up that Brat Pack mantle. 

The war zone commenced when Keegan Nathan and Max Corbett tangled at the end of the long straight on the opening lap to bring out the safety car. So Sebastian Bouillart took command of the race. Until he became victim to another skirmish and dropped to the back of the pack to leave Keyaan Dwomoh the provisional B winner. 

Dwomoh was however penalised to place behind Bouilliart in 17th overall as from Jono Konig was promoted to the win from Chris Davison, Robbie Cosani, Martin De Beer, Bouilliart and Dwomoh. Behind them, Bryce Pillay dominated class C with a start to finish victory over Stuart Konig, Dimitri Zapheriou and Phillip Croeser.

Race 2 proved a carbon copy of the first at the top and tail of the field. Christopher Tait dominated from Anthony Lessing up front while Josh Moore fought back to pip Ian Walker for third. Francis Aldrich ended fifth from Dricus Du Plessis and Elna Croeser. Keyaan Dwomoh made no mistakes second time around to beat race 1 nemesis Sebastian Bouilliart to the B win with Jono Konig third from Martin De Beer, Chris Davison, and Roberto Cosani. And Bryce Pillay repeated his dominant class C win from Stuart Konig and Dimitri Zapheriou and Phillip Croeser.

Overall, Christopher Tait took the day and Class A from Anthony Lessing, Ian Walker, Francis Aldrich, and Joshua Moore, while Elna Croeser took class T. Jonathan Konig picked up the Class B silverware alongside Chris Davison and Martin de Beer on the podium, and Bryce Pillay took Class C from Stuart Konig and Dimitri Zapheriou. The ATE VW Challenge returns to action for its third round at Zwartkops’ Regional Extreme Festival on 13 June. Expect a chilly start.