The 2025 Astron Energy Polo Cup is all revved up and ready to go when the new season opens at the first round Extreme Festival powered by Coca Cola at Cape Town’s Killarney International Raceway on Saturday 8 March.
“Volkswagen Motorsport is delighted to confirm the twenty-ninth year of Astron Energy Polo Cup for 2025,” Volkswagen Head of Motorsport Mike Rowe confirmed. “Not only do we have a packed field of regular faces and a strong contingent of exciting new drivers, but the 2025 Astron Energy Polo Cup also welcomes a new Polo GTI racecar with improved aero and more power to give our competitors a new challenge for the season.”
With champion Jason Loosemore promoted to SupaCup with Volkswagen Motorsport as part of his prize, there are a number of drivers set to fight it out up front. Race winners Ethan Coetzee and Rory Atkinson, who showed great pace through 2024 in his Industry Petroleum Polo Cup must start as favourites. 2023 Volkswagen Rookie Cup and 2024 Astron Energy Polo Cup Rookie Kyle Visser now racing his Charl Engineering Polo is another lad who knows how to win, but there’s a strong contingent of capable rivals snapping at their heels.
Veteran Charl Smalberger’s Sabertek Polo is another top entry while Mohammed Karodia and his Fast 5 Motorsport LTR Polo has proven increasingly competitive through the past few seasons, while Dainfern Dental Studio doctor Hannes Scheepers is a man on a mission. Tyler Robinson consistently knocked on the door in her AF Fans Polo through 2024, while BLI lass Lonika Maartens is another fast young lady to watch on her Polo Cup comeback. FSS sophomore Pierluigi Muzzulini is back for a second season, Upward Spiral lad Roshaan Goodman is known for a turn of speed, and Nirav Singh keeps on improving too.
Of the newcomers, Judd Bertholdt earned his Volkswagen Motorsport Astron Energy Polo Cup seat by winning the Volkswagen Rookie Cup last year. He will be joined by his brother Bjorn’s Sizani Plastics car and former Rookie Cup rival Dhivyen Naidoo among the first year lads. Other Polo Cup rookies to watch for are ex-VW Challenge drivers, Shrien Rajpaul from Durban in his Dubcorp car, while Milan Emslie debuts for Team Red and Nirav Singh also joins the fray.
Don’t forget the Astron Energy Polo Masters which is now also a National Championship for 2025. Champion Wayne Masters’ Performance Master machine will pick up the battle with old over-50 rivals, Derick Smallberger’s Sabertek entry John Kruger’s Habot Lubricants machine, Mike Barbaglia’s Haupt Racing Polo Cup and Elio Muzzulini’s FSS entry, while another experienced VW Challenge driver Gavin Ross makes his Polo Masters debut.
Technical changes for Astron Energy Polo Cup for 2025 include new 18-inch wheels with 225 series Dunlop tyres and a small aero package including a new rear wing and front splitter. The cars will also step up new turbocharger and exhaust system from the second round of the championship at Kyalami in April, from when a few more new entries are also expected.
“We are most excited for a fresh, faster year of Astron Energy Polo Cup in 2025 with new drivers, quicker cars and a cracking grid in south Africa’s premier single make series, Mike Rowe concluded. “It has all the makings for yet another classic season. Let’s race!
