Fifteen-year-old Eastern Cape racer Josh Moore is set to make the next important step in his young motorsport career when he debuts in the Astron Energy Polo Cup at this weekend’s National Extreme Festival at Killarney International Raceway in Cape Town.
The Jeffrey’s Bay scholar heads into the national season opener carrying strong momentum after claiming Class A victory in the ATE VW Challenge at Zwartkops Raceway last weekend. The result provided valuable race mileage and confidence ahead of what will be his first outing in one of South Africa’s most competitive single-make championships.
Josh will compete under the banner of WORX Motorsport, with the support of Fleet Dynamics, as he steps onto the national stage against a highly competitive field of emerging circuit racing talent.
The fast and flowing 3.2 km Killarney International Raceway is a venue Josh knows well. He raced there during the 2025 VW Rookie Cup season, where he enjoyed an impressive campaign in the interprovincial championship. By the end of the season, Josh had secured three race victories and three additional podium finishes, ultimately finishing as runner-up in the championship standings.
Those results underlined the young driver’s ability to adapt to circuit racing quickly after many years in karting. Like many drivers currently competing at the national level, Josh’s motorsport journey began in karting, where he spent nearly a decade developing the racecraft and discipline that are essential to success in circuit racing. Karting remains widely recognised as the foundation of a racing driver’s development, and Moore’s experience in the fiercely competitive karting ranks has played a significant role in preparing him for the step up to saloon car racing.
The transition from karting to circuit racing can often present a steep learning curve, but Josh has already shown promising pace and maturity behind the wheel as he continues to build experience.
Now stepping into the Polo Cup, Josh joins a championship in its 30th season, and is long regarded as one of South Africa’s most important stepping stones for young drivers looking to establish themselves in national motorsport. The series is known for producing exceptionally close racing, with tightly matched machinery ensuring that driver skill and racecraft ultimately determine the outcome.
The race weekend will begin with three practice sessions and qualifying on Friday, allowing teams and drivers to fine-tune their cars and adapt to the conditions around the Cape Town circuit. The action will then move into race mode on Saturday, when the drivers will contest two feature races as part of the opening round of the championship.
For Josh, the primary objective for the weekend will be to gain valuable experience while continuing to build momentum following his recent success at Zwartkops.
“I’m really excited to be making my Astron Energy Polo Cup debut this weekend,” Josh said ahead of the event. “Killarney is a circuit I’ve enjoyed racing at before, and it’s great to come into the weekend with the confidence of a win from last week. I’m grateful to WORX Motorsport and Fleet Dynamics for their support in helping me take this next step. The goal for the weekend is to learn as much as possible and keep improving throughout the races.”
With a strong karting background, recent race-winning form and valuable experience at the Killarney circuit, the young Eastern Cape driver will be eager to make a positive impression as he begins his Polo Cup journey.
As the lights go out for the opening races of the season, Josh will take his place on the grid ready to embrace the next chapter in what is already shaping up to be a promising racing career.
For more information around the event, please visit https://extremefestival.co.za/
Published by: Raymond Cornwell
Picture Caption: Josh Moore
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