Volkswagen Motorsport came back smiling from a rough and tough blockbuster Extreme Festival race meeting at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit over the weekend. Team drivers, 2023 Polo Cup champion and SupaCup rookie Charl Michael Visser, and seasoned teammate Jonathan Mogotsi ended second and third for the day in the South African Touring Cars SupaCup races. Volkswagen Rookie Cup champion Kyle Visser once again emerged as the top rookie in the Astron Energy Polo Cup.
“Kyalami was tough but Volkswagen Motorsport came home with our heads held high,” Mike Rowe, Head of Volkswagen Motorsport explains. “We may not have won any of our races today, but we were consistent when It counted most and Charl Michael and Jonathan now have a healthy championship lead over the rest in SATC SupaCup. Young Kyle Visser also had another great outing to come home best of the Astron Energy Polo Cup rookies, so all in all a very good weekend.”
“We may not have had winning pace at Kyalami, but we kept out of trouble through the chaos that affected our championship,” Charl Michael Visser, who came second overall at Kyalami in SATC SupaCup pointed out. “It was a rough weekend, but we put our best foot forward and now Jonathan and I enjoy a strong championship advantage. Thanks to the team for a great car. Now we can look forward to extending our advantage at Zwartkops next time.”
“Most of the cars around us were racing for the first time this year and were not in the championship chase, while our main rivals were either taken out, or penalised for taking other cars out,” Jonathan Mogotsi elaborated. “So while our individual race results may not show it, it was a great weekend for the championship. My car was strong, my team was excellent and we shone through adversity. Kyalami was a very good weekend after all!”
“Kyalami was another great learning curve and another positive result,” Kyle admitted. “As always, there was a lot of Astron Energy Polo Cup drama today, but we kept out of trouble and made some more good progress as I came home sixth overall and best of the rookies again. I am learning so much and I feel so privileged to be part of this incredible team. Now let’s keep the ball rolling next time out.”
“We have had better race results than we scored at Kyalami, but on the whole, this weekend was a great outcome where it counts most in the championship,” Rowe concluded. “We move on to Zwartkops for our next National Extreme Festival appointment on 18 May, but not before something completely different. That’s one of the coolest weekends of our season at the Simola Hill Climb 3-5 May. See you in Knysna!”
