Kicking off under the golden hues of dawn and racing into dusk, the National Extreme Festival presented by Coca-Cola transformed Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit into a spectacle of high-octane drama this Saturday. Fans revelled in a relentless showcase of championship battles, from the thunderous Dunlop Supercars to the wheel-to-wheel chaos of the South African Touring Cars, SupaCup, and the fiercely competitive Astron Energy Polo Cup. Regional categories added further fuel to the fiery mix, ensuring no moment lacked adrenaline.
Extreme Supercars: Liebenberg Dominates, Du Toit Strikes Back
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Starting from pole position, Bradley Liebenberg’s Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO delivered a masterclass in precision, securing a hat-trick with a lights-to-flag victory in the opening Dunlop Supercars race. Rising star Ryan Naicker, in his Mercedes-AMG GT3, faced relentless pressure from Jonathan du Toit’s Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO and Class B winner Damian Hammond’s Super Trofeo, while Kris Budnik’s Dodge Viper and Audi pair Paul Hill and Marius Jackson lurked close behind.
Heat two saw Naicker briefly lead before Du Toit and Liebenberg surged past on lap one. Du Toit clinched victory, but Liebenberg’s second-place finish was scrubbed post-race due to a technical infringement, elevating Naicker to runner-up ahead of Budnik, Hammond, and Hill. Du Toit ultimately claimed the day’s GT3 honours, with Naicker and Liebenberg rounding out the podium. Hammond dominated Class B, while Sam Hammond and Uli Sanne (BMW Z4) triumphed in their respective categories.
SATC SupaCup: Mogotsi’s Redemption & Penalty Drama
Jonathan Mogotsi seemed unstoppable in the SATC SupaCup, dominating the first heat until post-race penalties for unauthorised push-to-pass usage on lap one stripped him, Charl Michael Visser, and Niko Zafiris of ten seconds each. Tate Bishop inherited a surprise victory – his third consecutive win – ahead of Dylan Pragji and a demoted Mogotsi. Heat two saw Mogotsi rebound, fending off Bishop and Visser, though Karah Hill later joined the penalty list. Mogotsi sealed the day’s overall win, with Bishop and Visser completing the podium.
Polo Cup: Robinson Shines in Historic Victory
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Tyler Robinson etched her name into the history books, securing her maiden Astron Energy Polo Cup pole and converting it into a commanding lights-to-flag victory – a remarkable feat in the series’ notoriously ruthless environment. Ethan Coetzee and debutant Anthony Lessing pipped Rory Atkinson to second and third, while Kyle Visser and Hannes Scheepers completed the top five. Race two saw Mo Karodia snatch an early lead, but Coetzee’s late charge secured him the day’s overall win, with Robinson third behind Karodia.
Toyota Gazoo Racing Cup: New Faces Rise
Nabil Abdool (GR Yaris Media Cup) outclassed Kent Swartz and GR86 Rookie Cup pair Khanya Ngqenya and Jason Coetzee in the opening Toyota Gazoo race. Mario de Sousa (GR Corolla Dealer Cup) struck back in race two, besting Abdool and Rookie Cup contenders Coetzee, Ngqenya, and Brandon van der Walt.
Investchem MSA4 Teases Single-Seater Future
The debut of the Investchem MSA4 single-seaters faced hurdles, with technical gremlins limiting the grid after several cars encountered issues during practice. A brief demonstration run, however, offered a tantalising glimpse into South Africa’s upcoming winged-and-slick racing era.
Next Stop: Gqeberha
The National Extreme Festival now shifts gears to Aldo Scribante Circuit in Gqeberha on 10 May, promising another chapter of edge-of-seat action.
Colin Windell for Colin-on-Cars in association with
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