What Extreme Festival presented by Coca-Cola Round 5 Preview
Where East London Grand Prix Circuit
When Saturday 19 July 2025
Community South Africa National
National Festival heads for iconic Grand Prix Circuit
The Border Region is on full alert as the National Extreme Festival powered by Coca-Cola heads to the iconic beachside East London Grand Prix Circuit for its fifth round races on Saturday 19 July. The racetrack that started it all in the 1930s and hosted South Africa’s first World Championship Grand Prix in the ‘60s in its present format, plays host to SA’s top circuit racing categories including a new single seater class this weekend.
The main attraction however has to be the South African Touring Cars, where Keegan Campos and his BMW 128 will continue to chase Toyota man Michael van Rooyen down in East London after van Rooyen consolidated his title advantage last time out. Volkswagen Golf GTI duo Jagger Robertson and Julian van der Watt sit a close third and fourth in the chase ahead of two more Corollas in Saood Variawa and Nathi Msimanga’s hands, with Andrew Schofield’s BMW and Siya Mankonkwana’s Corolla also in chase.
It is tense in SATC SupaCup where a technical inspection fiasco last round leaves some teams furious and others off the hook. So expect the fight between championship leader Tate Bishop and the likes of challenger Jonathan Mogotsi, Charl Visser and Jason Loosemore’s Super Polos to be as fierce as ever. While Dawie van der Merwe lurks in the wings waiting to pick up the pieces in his solo Toyota SupaStarlet.
Far closer to the Grand Prix Circuit’s heart, new Investchem MSA4 arrives in East London for the first time with KC Ensor-Smith keen to maintain his early advantage over the likes of Mikel Bezuidenhout, Karabo Malemela, Shrien Naidoo and Renzo Ribeiro. Never ignore class veterans Nicholas van Weely and Alex Vos, while wildcards Allen Meyer and Andy Schofield add intrigue. And how fast will the new cars lap versus Jim Clark’s Lotus, Graham Hill’s BRM, Surtees’ Ferrari and Jack’s Brabham of the ‘60s…
The Astron Energy Polo Cup always thrills in East London. Saturday should be the same as Rory Atkinson chases championship leader Mo Karodia down, with Ethan Coetzee, Hannes Scheepers, Judd Bertholdt, racing lass Tyler Robinson and the rest in chase. An interesting addition this weekend is none other than former champion Brad Liebenberg to liven things even further up. Wayne Masters will also be out to build up on his Astron Energy Polo Masters advantage over John Kruger, Derick Smalberger and Mike Barbaglia.
Talking about advantage, the SunBet ZX 10 Masters have once again been all about Clinton Seller this season, with Damion Purificati, Graeme van Breda, Jayson Lamb, Hein McMahon, Adriaan van Dalen and Keith Agliotti among those out to topple him. It’s no different in the Toyota Gazoo Cup, where GR86 Rookie racer Jason Coetzee, GR Yaris Media man Nabil Abdool and GR Corolla Dealer Cup driver Mario da Souza have dominated so far this season with their rivals all chasing very hard to beat them too.
With practice Friday and qualifying before two races each class Saturday, the East London Extreme Festival powered by Coca-Cola is simply not worth missing. See you at the races. Or catch them streamed live on Extreme Festival social media platforms.
Issued on behalf of Extreme Festival
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