| What | Extreme Festival 2023 Round 3 Preview |
| Where | Zwartkops Raceway, Pretoria |
| When | Saturday 20 May 2023 |
| Community | South Africa National |
National Extreme Festival visits Pretoria Saturday 20 May
It’s a case of no guts, no glory in a concentrated extravaganza South African National racing out of the top drawer when the Extreme Festival heads to Zwartkops. The country’s premier circuit racing series will thrill the Gauteng crowd when Global Touring Cars, GTC SupaCup, CompCare Polo Cup, G+H Extreme Supercars, Investchem Formula 1600 and Toyota Gazoo Cup have the Pretoria circuit pretty much to themselves on Saturday 20 May.
The Global Touring Cars were sensational in both their Kyalami and Killarney opening rounds. But it’s young gun Saood Variawa who holds the upper hand marching to Pretoria. His double feature race wins in his Toyota Corolla GTC see champion and archrival Robert Wolk with it all to do. Despite sitting second in the chase, Wolk still has to win in 2023. That’s something Andrew Rackstraw and his Golf GTC and rookie Josh Le Roux’s Audi S3 have both already achieved, while Corolla men Nathi Msimanga and Michael van Rooyen also still chase that elusive win. Rest assured of high GTC drama at Zwartkops!
Keegan Campos and Bradley Liebenberg have each scored a double GTC SupaCup victory so far in 2023. The action has also been seismic behind them, so expect Volkswagen factory driver Jonathan Mogotsi, Cape rookie Tate Bishop and the wily Arnold Neveling to be out to stake their winning claims in Pretoria. Tato Carello, Dominic and Calvin Dias and JP dan der Walt are all keen to prove a point too, while Danie van Niekerk and Scotsman Paul Luti will be back in action and Karah Hill steps up. There’s an extra chance of a major shake-up, as GTC SupaCup also switches to new Dunlop semis slick tyres for the first time this weekend…
The CompCare Polo Cup is always guaranteed to thrill. The ante has however risen to the extreme since Volkswagen confirmed that the Polo Cup champion will score a factory GTC SupaCup drive in 2024. That especially since first round winners Charl Visser and Dawie van der Merwe find themselves under pressure from wildcard Killarney grand slam winner Giordano Lupini, who makes a full time return to the series. Never ignore Nathan Victor, Farhaan Basha, Anthony Pretorius, Jason Loosemore, or Dean Venter. And, Ethan Coetzee Bryce Pillay, Mo Karodia, Shivesh Bissoon and others also all have a Polo Cup point to prove.
The fastest action of the weekend will go down between the ever-spectacular the G+H Transport Extreme Supercars. Just a handful of points split Charl Arangies’ AMG GT, Gianni Giannoccaro Nissan GT-R and Jonathan du Toit’s Lamborghini Huracan at the top of that championship table. Never ignore Franco Scribante’s Porsche, Marius Jackson’s Audi, Kris Budnik’s Viper or Charl Joubert’s Lotus. There’s also good racing behind them in the classes between Ricky and Jimmy Giannoccaro’s Lamborghinis, Mark du Toit’s Ferrari, Porsche four Nicky Dicks, Ant Blunden, Roy Obery and Mo Mia, and young Joseph Ellerine’s Audi R8.
It's Gauteng versus the Cape in the Investchem Formula 1600 single seaters as local lad Gerard Geldenhuys and Cape lad Troy Dolinschek arrive at Zwartkops on two wins apiece out of the first four races. Veteran Nicholas van Weely is in close pursuit in his fight with another Cape kid Jason Coetzee. Keep an eye on Siya Mankonkwana, Alex Vos, and Andrew Schofield, while KC Ensor Smith Karabo Malemela, Storm Lanfear, Antwan Geldenhuys and Shrien Naidoo all have something to prove too.
Toyota Gazoo Racing’s double Cups will see a significant target on Sa’aad Variawa’s back following his domination of the first few GR Yaris rounds. He will have the full attention of Polo Cup refugee Karah Hill, fellow former karters Nikki Vostanis and Bjorn Bertholdt, and Ryan Naicker and Taariq Adam at Zwartkops. Citizen scribe Mark Jones meanwhile leads the Toyota GR86 Media Cup to a track he knows very well. Setshaba Mashigo, Chad Luckhoff, Brendon Staniforth, Denis Droppa, Reuben van Niekerk and John Thomson will be in pursuit, And all of them under strict instruction to behave after a rowdy Killarney outing!
Offering family fun for everyone, Zwartkops’ full National Extreme Festival programme will be punctuated by a smoking pro drifting extravaganza and a fan walk on track, backed by all forms of off-circuit action, with displays and entertainment aplenty. Practice starts Thursday afternoon into Friday, before some classes qualify. Saturday morning 20 May will see the balance of qualifying, followed by a full program of racing action. Entry is R130 per adult, R90 for students and under 12s enter free. Buy your tickets at the gate and find out more at www.zwartkops.co.za.
