Summarize

Hannes Scheepers continued to dominate the 30th Anniversary 2026 Astron Energy Polo Cup with victory in two of the triple header Zwartkops Raceway third round National Extreme Festival races in Pretoria on Saturday. Charl Smalberger however broke the dentist’s winning streak with the third and final heat win. Wayne Masters meantime benefited a final heat problem for dad Derrick Smalberger to keep control over the Astron Energy Polo Masters.

Charl Smalberger continued his great form of late to grab the qualifying bonus point aboard his Sabertek OMP Polo. He put two tenths of a second on unbeaten championship leader Hannes Scheepers’ Dainfern Dental Studio entry, with ever-improving Volkswagen Rookie Cup graduate Mauro Da Luz a fine third in his Topshirt Nathans car. 

Automobile Association lad Jayden Goosen and Shiren Rajpaul’s Goldwagen and Roshaan Goodman’s Upward Spiral 1471 machines joined Smalberger, Scheepers and Da Luz in Superpole. Da Luz kept his best for last as he drove a sensational lap to snatch pole position as he reshuffled the grid top six ahead of Scheepers, Goosen, Smalberger, Rajpaul and Goodman.

Behind them, Nirav Singh’s Kyalami Exhausts entry narrowly missed the Superpole cut to line up seventh alongside Dean Ross’ Norbrake entry. A troubled Volkswagen Rookie Cup champion Christopher Tait and Milan Emslie’s Triton car rounded off the top ten. Liam Crystal, Union Power lad Bjorn Bertholdt, Berlin Robinson’s AF Fans entry, FSS International man Pierluigi Muzzulini, Cyril Jacobs Jr.’s Auto Perfect Team Red car and Joshua Moore’s Worx BPW Polo completed the Cup grid.

Starting behind the Cup pack, Charl’s dad Derick Smalberger did the family thing with pole position in the over-50 Astron Energy Polo Masters in the second Sabertek OMP Polo. He edged log leader Wayne Masters’ Performance Masters car, Habot Lubricants entry John Kruger, PABAR man Mike Barbaglia, Richard van Heerde, FSS driver Elio Muzzulini and Uncle George Smalberger’s Shield car.

Hannes Scheepers did not rest on ceremony as he overcame Mauro Da Luz to lead the opening heat from lights to flag. Jayden Goosen held Charl Smalberger off for third ahead of Goodman, Rajpaul, Christopher Tait, Singh, Emslie, and Joshua Moore in tenth. Wayne Masters took his customary Masters win from Derick Smalberger, Kruger, Barbaglia, Muzzulini, van Heerde and George Smalberger.

Scheepers was back on pole for race 2 from Shrien Rajpaul, Da Luz and Goosen. Hannes led away from Rajpaul and Da Luz while Charl Smalberger jumped up to fourth as they cleared away from the wild mid pack to finish in that order. Roshaan Goodman held Jayden Goosen off for fifth, from Singh, Tait a fighting Pierluigi Muzzulini and Moore. Derick Smalberger put one over Wayne Masters, Kruger, van Heerde and Barbaglia in the Masters.

With the race 3 grid based on second quickest qualifying laps, Charl Smalberger made up for his Superpole disappointment with pole ahead of Da Luz, Goosen and Rajpaul, with Scheepers seventh. Charl fended Da Luz off to lead Rajpaul and Ross under pressure from Scheepers, who was soon past both. Smalberger fought Da Luz off for the win with Scheepers under pressure from Goosen and Rajpaul. Singh followed from Tait, Goodman, Ross, and Emslie in tenth. Wayne Masters took advantage of a Derick Smalberger issue to take Polo Masters from Kruger, Barbaglia and van Heerde.

Hannes Scheepers did enough to take his third overall win on the trot from Da Luz, Rajpaul, Smalberger, Goodman and Goosen as he controls the title chase. But Charl Smalberger finally broke the Doctor’s six-race winning streak. Wayne Masters squeaked to the Masters win for the day as he leads that chase. Racing its thirtieth season in 2026, the Astron Energy Polo Cup moves on to Volkswagen’s home Aldo Scribante racetrack just around the corner from Plant Kariega on Saturday 27 June.