National Extreme Festival in-gear to bring the heat to Zwartkops
Jagger Robertson (Sparco Volkswagen Golf GTI) should be a podium chaser in Saturday's South African Touring Car races at Zwartkops. Photograph: Dave Ledbitter.
South African circuit racing will return to the Zwartkops Raceway near Pretoria this Saturday, when the venue will host round four of the National Extreme Festival Presented by Coca-Cola series.
The event will see 121 competitors in eight disciplines taking to the tarmac.
Touring Cars
Heading up proceedings will be two races for the South African Touring Car Championship.
Tin-top veteran Michael van Rooyen (Toyota Gazoo Racing Corolla) will go to Zwartkops as the current points leader, with his closest title rival youngster Jagger Robertson (Sparco Volkswagen Golf 8 GTI).
ALSO READ: National Extreme Festival gives it its all at Aldo Scribante
Other drivers who could spoil their day will include Keegan Campos (Campos Transport BMW 128ti), Andrew Schofield (Chemical Logistics BMW 128it), Saood Variawa (Toyota Gazoo Racing Corolla), Julian van der Watt (Chemical Logistics Volkswagen Golf 8 GTI) and Siyabonga Mankonkwana (Investchem Toyota Corolla).
SupaCup
Starting behind them will be the SupaCup category, with Tate Bishop (ANGRi Racing Volkswagen SupaPolo) the man to beat.
Tate Bishop (ANGRi Racing Volkswagen SupaPolo) should be the man to beat in the SupaCup category. Photograph: Dave Ledbitter.
His closest rivals should include Jonathan Mogotsi (Volkswagen Genuine Parts SupaPolo), Charl Visser (Charl Engineering Volkswagen SupaPolo), Dawie van der Merwe (Toyota Gazoo Racing SupaStarlet), Dean Venter (Platinum Mile Volkswagen SupaPolo), David Franco (Graphix Supply Volkswagen SupaPolo) and Karah Hill (Kalex Volkswagen SupaPolo).
Polo Cup
The Astron Energy Volkswagen Polo Cup races should see Mohammed Karodia (Fast 5 Motorsport) as the man to beat.
Derek Smalberger (Sabertek) should chase podium places in the Astron Energy Volkswagen Polo Cup races. Photograph: Dave Ledbitter.
He will face off against drivers like Ethan Coetzee (Ethan Coetzee Motorsport), Rory Atkinson (Industry Petroleum), Tyler Robinson (AF Fans), Wayne Masters (Performance Masters) and John Kruger (Habot Lubricants)
Not to be overlooked for a top position will be the likes of Derick Smalberger (Sabertek), Bevin Masters (CPS Warehouse), Mike Barbaglia (Pabar), Hannes Scheepers (Dairnfern Dental Polo), Bjorn Bertholdt (Sizanani Plastics), Charl Smalberger (CPS Warehouse Polo) and Pierluigi Muzuzulini (FSS International).
Extreme Supercars
The event's quickest lap times should come courtesy of the Dunlop Extreme Supercar category, with podium chasers to include Jonathan du Toit (Trans Africa Racing Lamborghini Huracan) Charl Arangies (Stradale Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 R) and Kris Budnik (Bucketlist Composites Dodge Viper).
Charl Arangies (Stradale Porsche 911 GT3 R) could spray the champagne after Saturday's Dunlop Extreme Supercar races. Photograph: Dave Ledbitter.
Also set to be the running will be Damian Hammond (Liqui Moly Lamborghini Huracan), Ricky Giannocvcaro (G&H Transport Mercedes-AMG GT3) and Paul Hill (Kalex Audi R8 LMS).
Two-wheels
Multiple South African Superbike champion Clinton Seller (King Price) will be the man to beat in the SunBet Kawasaki ZX10 Masters Cup races.
Chasing him will be riders like Greame van Breda (Stefanutti Stocks), Jayson Lamb (Tyremart East London), David Enticott (Ravenol), Damion Purificati (Amalgum Welding), Dieter Huysamen (Adventure Xtreme), Sfiso Themba (Wakahina), Johan Le Roux (Avidan) and Brian Bontekoning (Jaguar Air Products).
MSA4
Making its official debut at Zwartkops will be the new Investchem MSA4 single-seater championship.
Making its official debut at Zwartkops will be the new Investchem MSA4 single-seater championship. Photograph: Dave Ledbitter.
Top contenders should include Alex Vos (Investchem), KC Ensor-Smith (African Heating), Nicolas van Weely (Investchem), Shirien Naidoo (Production X), Mikai Bezuidenhout (Corsa Del Gemelli), Karabo Malemela (KMFT), Ndazalo Khoza (Ducted Solutions) and Liam Polome (Red Dot).
Toyota GR Cup
The Toyota GR Cup races will dish up a host of battles in various classes.
In the GR86s, championship leader Jason Coetzee will be the pre-event winning favourite, with his closest adversaries being Mbuso Ngwenya, Kent Swartz, Vatisva Mokhonoana, Justin Rogers and Khanya Ngwenya.
The media challenge in the GR Yaris' will be headed by runaway championship leader, Nabil Abdool (SuperSport), chased by CAR Magazine's Kyle Kock, TimesLive's Phuti Mpyane, Lawrence Minnie (AutoTrader), The Citizen's Charl Bosch and IOL/Independent's Willem van der Putte.
Veteran racer Mario de Sousa should win the dealer class in the GR Corolla, but chased hard by the likes of Werner Venter, Theo Brits, Tiaan Combrinck, Andries de Villiers, Johan Boonzaaier and Riaan de Ru.
Volkswagen Rookie Cup
Leading contenders in the all-Volkswagen Rookie Cup, using standard Polo Vivo GT's, should be Uzair Khan (TSS), Christopher Tait (Sportex), Josh Moore (BPW), Karabo Malemela (KMFT Morita) and Shrien Naidoo (Production X).
When and how much?
The Zwartkops gates will be open from 07h00, with racing to commence at 10h30.
Admission will cost R140 per adult and R120 per student, with children under 12 years of age to enter for free.
Everybody is invited to visit the pits on foot at all times, and the circuit's Mini Moke trains will run between the pit gate and spectator areas throughout the day.
Saturday's racing will be broadcast live via the Extreme Festival website.
For more information contact the Zwartkops race office at 012 384 2299 or e-mail them at Info@zwartkops.co.za.
ALSO READ: Kyalami shows its teeth to National and Regional Extreme Festivals
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
eNCA
31 minutes ago
- eNCA
Gayton's Tweets: Will He Survive Racism Storm?
Will the Minister Sports, Arts and Culture keep his job? Plus, Micah Reddy from the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists explains the successes and challenges of investigative journalism, and Legal expert Emma Sadlier breaks down how South African law affects the internet.
IOL News
2 hours ago
- IOL News
Dewald Brevis ready to ride the Proteas rollercoaster after record-breaking T20I ton
Dewald Brevis raises his bat to the heavens after reaching his maiden T20I century against Australia in Darwin on Tuesday. Picture: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix EVER since Dewald Brevis first stole the spotlight when he topped the run-scorers charts at the ICC Under-19 World Cup he's had to live with the moniker 'Baby AB' in reference to Proteas legend and his childhood hero AB de Villiers. But three years later on a balmy night in Darwin, in the Northern Territory of Australia, Brevis lifted the immense weight of expectation off his shoulders to become his own man through an innings for the ages. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Brevis eclipsed everything De Villiers achieved in a Proteas T20I shirt – and in fact anyone that's ever worn it – by booming an undefeated 125 not out off 56 balls (12X4, 8X6) to power the Proteas to series-levelling 53-run victory over Australia. 'I've always believed that this is where I need to be and where I will be,' he said. 'So, I never had any doubt. It's all about cricket, how things work out. It is a roller coaster, you have your ups, you have your downs, and yeah, I've never ever doubted myself. This is just for me the start.' The second-quickest T20I hundred from a South African player! Dewald Brevis, take a bow 👏#AUSvSA — (@cricketcomau) August 12, 2025 Records aplenty were left in the dust at the Marrara Stadium. Brevis is now the holder of South Africa's highest individual T20I score, having surpassed Faf du Plessis' 119 not out against the West Indies a decade ago, the second-fastest T20I hundred off 41 balls and the youngest South African to hit a century in the shortest format. The beauty lies in the simplicity of Brevis' batting. He hits the ball long and hard, has quick feet, quicker hands and an uncomplicated method which comprises largely drives and pulls of equal ferocity. Ironically, the first time he attempted anything out of De Villiers' 360° manual off the first ball after he reached three-figures, he promptly fell over in a mess attempting a ramp shot. Sixty-six runs were struck straight down the ground – with a half dozen sixes blasted in the 'V' – and when the Australian seamers tried to go short, he had enough good fortune on the night to top-edge a few more boundaries over the wicket-keeper's head. 'To be honest, I think that's just my natural way of hitting,' Brevis said, about his trademark head down pose after striking the ball. 'I've hit thousands of balls and I just want to go out there, enjoy it and have fun and just watch it and then if it's there, it happens. So, I don't try to do it, I'm just trying to be myself and have fun. Dewald Brevis 125(56)* vs Australia | 2nd T20I, 2025 - Darwin | Ball By Ball Highlights + Post Innings Interview — PCT Replays 2.0 (@ReplaysPCT) August 12, 2025 'I always knew I was happy if spin arrived, so I would have just watched it and maximise every single ball, but in a way I felt like I'm happy with the seam because the wicket was nice. 'I enjoyed it. I was just in the moment to be honest. I was happy with whatever bowler it was. If it was pace on seam or spin or anything.' Brevis formed a 126-run partnership with Tristan Stubbs (31 off 22 balls) that set up the Proteas' highest-ever T20I score against Australia, and was grateful to have his more experienced partner feed him the strike to maintain the momentum through his innings. 'Stubbo played very well, he's a boundary hitter as well. He could have easily have just striked as well, but he's been on this level quite longer and he's got experience, so I think he really identified that moment,' Brevis said. The Proteas' bowlers backed up Brevis' pyrotechnics show with another promising Proteas young talent Kwena Maphaka claiming 3/57 to follow up his 4/20 from the previous game, while Corbin Bosch bounced back with a career-best 3/20 to bowl out Australia for 165. The series decider will be in Cairns on Saturday.
The South African
2 hours ago
- The South African
Kaizer Chiefs latest: Where will Asanele Velebayi fit in at Naturena?
Asanele Velebayi is officially a Kaizer Chiefs player following the PSL DRC ruling to declare him a free agent on Monday. Of course, Cape Town Spurs feel cheated on by the latest developments given that they once wanted R10 million for Velebayi. However, that's not how the PSL Dispute Resolution Chamber (PSL DRC) saw the matter as they ruled in Velebayi's favour. Now, having been officially unveiled by Amakhosi on Tuesday, The South African takes a look at where the 22-year-old will fit in at Naturena. Velebayi is renowned for his speed and skill to eliminate opposition defenders, and this is the kind of player Chiefs needed. Given their quick transition play under Nasreddine Nabi, Chiefs need a speedy player to get into the opposition box as quickly as possible. Pule Mmodi has been that player for Chiefs over the past two seasons, but he's sometimes flat, and ended up not giving his team the much needed width. The majority of Chiefs wingers are not necessarily able to take on defenders, and often lose possession cheaply in the final third. And should Velebayi be given that role to play – either on the left or on the write wing – he shouldn't be expected to do much of a defending. After all, Velebayi was signed to strengthen Amakhosi's attack and help them score goals. Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
