- Grand slam thrusts Rory Atkinson into Astron Energy Polo title fight
- Volkswagen Motorsport rookie Judd Bertholdt an exceptional second
- Wayne Masters continues to dominate Astron Energy Polo Masters
Gauteng driver Rory Atkinson dominated the Astron Energy Polo Cup at Zwartkop Raceway, winning all three races from pole with the fastest lap in each at the midseason Extreme Festival. That, combined with runaway log leader Mo Karodia capitulating in the final heat, sees Atkinson jump up to second in the chase just a handful of points behind Karodia in the chase.
Volkswagen Motorsport rookie Judd Bertholdt meantime delivered another exceptional performance to wind up second overall for the day ahead of Hannes Scheepers, while Wayne Masters continued his dominant way in Astron Energy Polo Masters.
Atkinson started his weekend with the fastest lap in qualifying in his Industry Petroleum Polo Cup from championship leader Karodia’s Fast 5 LTR version and Tyler Robinson once again right on form in her AF Fans Team Red entry. Hannes Scheepers was fifth in his Dainfern Dental car, while Lonika Maartens made it two girls in the top six in her VTL BLI International machine from rookie Dhivyen Naidoo’s Production X Polo Cup. They thus progressed to Superpole, where Atkinson claimed pole position from Karodia, Robinson, Naidoo, Maartens and Scheepers.
Behind them, Bevin Masters lined up seventh in his CPS Warehouse Polo ahead of Dubcorp Durbanite Shiren Rajpaul, Roshaan Goodman’s Upward Spiral version and VW Rookie Cup champion Judd Bertholdt in tenth. Sabertek man Charl Smalberger followed from second in the title chase, Ethan Coetzee’s ECR LTR car, both of them a little further back than may have been expected. Bjorn Bertholdt’s Sizani car, Insurisk rookie Anthony Lessing, Nirav Singh’s Kyalami Exhausts Polo Cup, Team Red rookie Milan Emslie and Pierluigi Muzzulini’s FSS International car closed off the Cup grid.
John Kruger’s Habot Lubricants entry upset Astron Energy Masters championship leader Wayne Masters Performance Masters car on the front of the over-50s grid from Derick Smalberger Sabertek and an on-form Gavin Ross’ Norbrake car. Elio Muzzulini’s FSS car, PABAR capo Mike Barbaglia and newcomer George Smalberger’s new Shield Racing Polo Cupo closed off the grid.
Rory Atkinson made a clean start to lead Mohammed Karodia before they made off up front in the first of three heats. Behind them, Hannes Scheepers made best of the scrap for third from impressive rookie Dhivyen Naidoo, who held factory rival Judd Bertholdt off. As it always is, the action behind then was fraught as Rajpaul, Bevin Masters Polo ladies Maartens and Robinson fought it out, their cars becoming increasingly battle wary as the dice progressed. Charl Smalberger and Ethan Coetzee continued to struggle ahead of Goodman, Bjorn Bertholdt, Pierluigi Muzzulini, Lessing and Emslie. Wayne Masters left Derick Smalberger to fend John Kruger, Elio Muzzulini, Gavin Ross, Mike Barbaglia and George Smalberger off for the Masters scraps.
The second race looked much the same as the first heat up front. Bar Karodia keeping Atkinson a little more honest second time round. It was a different story behind them though, as Judd Bertholdt emerged in third ahead of Roshaan Goodman, Shiren Rajpaul and the ever-consistent Hannes Scheepers. Car wars resumed further back between the mid-pack as Bevin Masters snatched seventh from Naidoo, Maartens and Charl Smalberger in tenth, Coetzee, Pierluigi Muzzulini, Bjorn Bertholdt, Lessing, Singh and Emslie after Tyler Robinson fell out. Wayne Masters took Masters again from John Kruger and Derick Smalberger, Muzzulini, Barbaglia, Smalberger and Ross.
The third and final race lasted until turn two, where championship leader Karodia slid into Hannes Scheepers, causing a pile-up that also had Tyler Robinson in the kitty litter as the red flags flew. All cars returned to the grid where Karodia’s car was patched up for the restart. Rory Atkinson once again led from the restart lights to flag, this time with pressure from Tyler Robinson. Significantly, Karodia then spun into retirement, leaving Roshaan Goodman to third from Judd Bertholdt, Charl Smalberger and Dhivyen Naidoo as the race all but ended under yellow following a late safety car period.
Lessing ended seventh from Bevin Masters, Coetzee, Maartens, Pierluigi Muzzulini, Bjorn Bertholdt, Emslie and Rajpaul. Wayne Masters meantime made it an Astron Energy Polo Masters hat trick from John Kruger, Mike Barbaglia, Derick and George Smalberger, Elio Muzzulini and Gavin Ross, as a perfect weekend naturally brought Rory Atkinson a dominant overall victory from Judd Bertholdt, Hannes Scheepers, Dhivyen Naidoo, Shiren Rajpaul and Bevin Masters.
Atkinson also clawed 30 points out of Karodia’s championship advantage, to sit just five points behind in the championship chase with three rounds left to race, subject to MSA ratification. It is even closer for third between Ethan Coetzee, provisionally one point clear of Judd Bertholdt and Hannes Scheepers tied for fourth. Taking Atkinson’s 30-point swing this weekend, all five are still very much in title contention.
Astron Energy Polo Cup heads to the Border Region next, when the Extreme Festival powered by Coca-Cola visits the epic beachside East London Grand Prix Circuit on Saturday 19 July.
