Extreme Festival 2023 | East London Set For Extreme Racing Thrills
| What | Extreme Festival 2023 Round 4 Preview |
| Where | East London Grand Prix Circuit |
| When | Saturday 22 July 2023 |
| Community | South Africa National |
National Festival Motor Racing at Grand Prix Circuit 22 July
Not only is the East London Grand Prix Circuit the spiritual home of South African circuit motor racing, but it is also the most daunting racetrack in the land. Superfast yet technically challenging, this is where grand prix superheroes Rosemeyer, Seaman and Villoresi raced in the ‘30s, and the circuit remains identical to when legends like Clark, Moss and Brabham won Grands Prix there in the 1960s.
That’s also why the Border Region racetrack is a favourite among today’s stars of the South African National Championship Bigfoot Express Freight BMG Extreme Festival, which pays its annual visit to the classic Grand Prix Circuit on Saturday 22 July. The perfect venue for local race fans to look forward an epic day of motor racing action, the meeting features titanic tin-top action in the Global Touring Cars, GTC SupaCup and CompCare Polo Cup. Add ultrafast GTs in the G+H Extreme Supercars, splendid Investchem Formula 1600 single seaters, the Gazoo Toyota Racing Leagues, and SunBet ZX10 Masters motorcycles, and there’s something for everyone in East London on Saturday.
Global Touring Cars is all about Toyota Corolla GTC archrivals, title-leading youngster Saood Variawa and his white, red, and black Gazoo Racing Hatchback version, and double reigning champion Robert Wolk’s blue Chemical Logistics Sedan. Rookie Nathi Msimanga has proven the find of the GTC season and sits third in the title chase aboard his Gazoo Corolla, from teammate Michael van Rooyen. Andrew Rackstraw will be looking for better luck in his Volkswagen Golf this weekend, Josh Le Roux will be out in his Audi S3, and Julian van der Watt is back in a brand new BMW M 128 ti.
Behind them, Keegan Campos has led the GTC SupaCup chase from the outset. But title rival Bradley Liebenberg dominated the second and third rounds before Campos struck back last time out at Aldo Scribante. Which makes SupaCup another key battleground at East London this weekend. Ever-consistent Jonathan Mogotsi is looking for his first win of the season, as is Arnold Neveling, but don’t ignore rookie Tate Bishop, Arnold Neveling or Tato Carello. Brothers Dominic and Calvin Dias, JP van der Walt, racing lady Kara Hill and Masters trio, Danie van Niekerk, Scotsman Paul Luti and Nick Davidson will all make for great racing.
Another class that guarantees action all the way, are the young men and women of the CompCare Polo Cup. Four times a race winner this season, Charl Visser leads the charge to East London from another race winner, Dawie van der Merwe. But keep an eye on triple race winner Giordano Lupini, who has charged back after missing the opening round. Anthony Pretorius has also won a race this year, while Nathan Victor, Farhaan Basha, Jason Loosemore, veteran Dean Venter and will all be chasing that first win. As will young gun Ethan Coetzee, who returns to the scene of his scary crash last year, intent to leave East London with far better memories in ’23.
Without doubt the fastest cars at the weekend’s Extreme Festival on the country’s fastest racetrack, expect the G+H Extreme Supercars to fly in East London. Jonathan du Toit and his mighty Lamborghini and Franco Scribante’s powerful Porsche remain the cars to beat and beat them is precisely what Gianni Giannoccaro’s Nismo GT-R GT3, Paul Hill and his Aston Martin and Marius Jackson’s Audi R8 LMS GT3 intend to do. Also, watch for Jimmy Giannoccaro in another Lamborghini, Porsche men Mo Mia and Nicky Dicks, and Joseph and Jason Ellerine in their Audi R8 GT4s.
Investchem Formula 1600 will provide the East London single-seater action. Now quicker around the classic Border racetrack than Formula 1 superstars Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Jack Brabham, or Stirling Moss ever lapped it back in the days of the Grand Prix there in the early 1960s, Troy Dolinschek will be the man to beat on Saturday. Having won six of the eight races so far this season, and the last four of them on the trot, Troy’s closest contender is Cape compatriot Jason Coetzee. Gerard Geldenhuys leads the Gauteng charge alongside Nicholas van Weely, Siya Mankonkwana, Antwan Geldenhuys, KC Ensor-Smith, and Alex Vos. They race alongside the old-school Formula Fords, where Ian Schofield will take on Duncan Vos, Graham Hepburn, and the rest.
Little brother Sa'aad Variawa has only been beaten once in the Gazoo Toyota Yaris League so far this season. Nikki Vostanis will be out to take another race or two off him, while lady racer Karah Hill is certainly due a win, with Bjorn Berthold, Ryan Naicker, and Taariq Adam in a chase on the Grand Prix Circuit. Setshaba Mashigo is the form man in the GT86 Media League. He has veteran scribes Denis Droppa and Mark Jones, as well as Reuben van Niekerk, Chad Luckhoff and Brendon Staniforth on his case. Also, watch for Toyota suit and former Group N racer Mario De Sousa among this lot.
Last but not least, local Border Region hero and championship protagonist Jayson Lamb will fly the flag in the SunBet ZX10 Masters motorcycles races. Seldom split by much more than a couple of tenths of a second, this is racing at its best. Graeme van Breda, Brain Bontekoning, Pieter De Vos, Johan Le Roux, Travis Naude will chase local man Lamb down. Also keep an eye on the likes of Hein Mc Mahon, David Veringa, Sifiso Themba, Lubabalo Ntisana and Ian Harwood among this two-wheeled spectacle.
The Bigfoot Express Freight BMG East London Extreme festival starts with Thursday and Friday practice before Polo Cup Qualifying Friday afternoon. The rest qualify Saturday morning 22 July, with racing commencing later in the morning. Pre-sale tickets are available at R80 per person or buy yours at the gate for R100. Under 12s get in free. Contact 043 736 4024 to book yours now!
| What | Extreme Festival 2023 Round 4 Preview |
| Where | East London Grand Prix Circuit |
| When | Saturday 22 July 2023 |
| Community | South Africa National |
National Festival Motor Racing at Grand Prix Circuit 22 July
Not only is the East London Grand Prix Circuit the spiritual home of South African circuit motor racing, but it is also the most daunting racetrack in the land. Superfast yet technically challenging, this is where grand prix superheroes Rosemeyer, Seaman and Villoresi raced in the ‘30s, and the circuit remains identical to when legends like Clark, Moss and Brabham won Grands Prix there in the 1960s.
That’s also why the Border Region racetrack is a favourite among today’s stars of the South African National Championship Bigfoot Express Freight BMG Extreme Festival, which pays its annual visit to the classic Grand Prix Circuit on Saturday 22 July. The perfect venue for local race fans to look forward an epic day of motor racing action, the meeting features titanic tin-top action in the Global Touring Cars, GTC SupaCup and CompCare Polo Cup. Add ultrafast GTs in the G+H Extreme Supercars, splendid Investchem Formula 1600 single seaters, the Gazoo Toyota Racing Leagues, and SunBet ZX10 Masters motorcycles, and there’s something for everyone in East London on Saturday.
Global Touring Cars is all about Toyota Corolla GTC archrivals, title-leading youngster Saood Variawa and his white, red, and black Gazoo Racing Hatchback version, and double reigning champion Robert Wolk’s blue Chemical Logistics Sedan. Rookie Nathi Msimanga has proven the find of the GTC season and sits third in the title chase aboard his Gazoo Corolla, from teammate Michael van Rooyen. Andrew Rackstraw will be looking for better luck in his Volkswagen Golf this weekend, Josh Le Roux will be out in his Audi S3, and Julian van der Watt is back in a brand new BMW M 128 ti.
Behind them, Keegan Campos has led the GTC SupaCup chase from the outset. But title rival Bradley Liebenberg dominated the second and third rounds before Campos struck back last time out at Aldo Scribante. Which makes SupaCup another key battleground at East London this weekend. Ever-consistent Jonathan Mogotsi is looking for his first win of the season, as is Arnold Neveling, but don’t ignore rookie Tate Bishop, Arnold Neveling or Tato Carello. Brothers Dominic and Calvin Dias, JP van der Walt, racing lady Kara Hill and Masters trio, Danie van Niekerk, Scotsman Paul Luti and Nick Davidson will all make for great racing.
Another class that guarantees action all the way, are the young men and women of the CompCare Polo Cup. Four times a race winner this season, Charl Visser leads the charge to East London from another race winner, Dawie van der Merwe. But keep an eye on triple race winner Giordano Lupini, who has charged back after missing the opening round. Anthony Pretorius has also won a race this year, while Nathan Victor, Farhaan Basha, Jason Loosemore, veteran Dean Venter and will all be chasing that first win. As will young gun Ethan Coetzee, who returns to the scene of his scary crash last year, intent to leave East London with far better memories in ’23.
Without doubt the fastest cars at the weekend’s Extreme Festival on the country’s fastest racetrack, expect the G+H Extreme Supercars to fly in East London. Jonathan du Toit and his mighty Lamborghini and Franco Scribante’s powerful Porsche remain the cars to beat and beat them is precisely what Gianni Giannoccaro’s Nismo GT-R GT3, Paul Hill and his Aston Martin and Marius Jackson’s Audi R8 LMS GT3 intend to do. Also, watch for Jimmy Giannoccaro in another Lamborghini, Porsche men Mo Mia and Nicky Dicks, and Joseph and Jason Ellerine in their Audi R8 GT4s.
Investchem Formula 1600 will provide the East London single-seater action. Now quicker around the classic Border racetrack than Formula 1 superstars Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Jack Brabham, or Stirling Moss ever lapped it back in the days of the Grand Prix there in the early 1960s, Troy Dolinschek will be the man to beat on Saturday. Having won six of the eight races so far this season, and the last four of them on the trot, Troy’s closest contender is Cape compatriot Jason Coetzee. Gerard Geldenhuys leads the Gauteng charge alongside Nicholas van Weely, Siya Mankonkwana, Antwan Geldenhuys, KC Ensor-Smith, and Alex Vos. They race alongside the old-school Formula Fords, where Ian Schofield will take on Duncan Vos, Graham Hepburn, and the rest.
Little brother Sa'aad Variawa has only been beaten once in the Gazoo Toyota Yaris League so far this season. Nikki Vostanis will be out to take another race or two off him, while lady racer Karah Hill is certainly due a win, with Bjorn Berthold, Ryan Naicker, and Taariq Adam in a chase on the Grand Prix Circuit. Setshaba Mashigo is the form man in the GT86 Media League. He has veteran scribes Denis Droppa and Mark Jones, as well as Reuben van Niekerk, Chad Luckhoff and Brendon Staniforth on his case. Also, watch for Toyota suit and former Group N racer Mario De Sousa among this lot.
Last but not least, local Border Region hero and championship protagonist Jayson Lamb will fly the flag in the SunBet ZX10 Masters motorcycles races. Seldom split by much more than a couple of tenths of a second, this is racing at its best. Graeme van Breda, Brain Bontekoning, Pieter De Vos, Johan Le Roux, Travis Naude will chase local man Lamb down. Also keep an eye on the likes of Hein Mc Mahon, David Veringa, Sifiso Themba, Lubabalo Ntisana and Ian Harwood among this two-wheeled spectacle.
The Bigfoot Express Freight BMG East London Extreme festival starts with Thursday and Friday practice before Polo Cup Qualifying Friday afternoon. The rest qualify Saturday morning 22 July, with racing commencing later in the morning. Pre-sale tickets are available at R80 per person or buy yours at the gate for R100. Under 12s get in free. Contact 043 736 4024 to book yours now!
