Pretoria teenager Jayden Goosen showed encouraging pace during the opening round of the 2026 Astron Energy Polo Cup at the Killarney International Raceway, despite a challenging weekend that ultimately yielded little reward.
Coming into the season as one of several rookies on the grid, Goosen carried confidence into the Cape Town opener following his impressive victory in the final round of the 2025 Polo Cup Championship. However, the highly competitive nature of the one-make series meant his debut weekend would provide a stern test.
Qualifying proved to be the turning point of Goosen’s weekend. Despite demonstrating promising pace throughout the sessions, he was unable to piece together a perfect lap when it mattered most and ultimately lined up 11th on the grid for the opening race.
When the lights went out for Race 1, Goosen settled into the tightly contested midfield battle that is synonymous with Polo Cup racing. Over the eight-lap sprint he maintained a steady rhythm and remained within striking distance of the group ahead. At the chequered flag the AA-backed driver crossed the line ninth overall, collecting valuable championship points on his debut weekend.
Starting from the midfield once again for Race 2, Goosen looked set to build on the momentum from the opening race. Running competitive lap times and keeping pace with the cars around him, the Pretoria youngster appeared on course for another solid finish. Unfortunately, his race came to an abrupt end with three laps remaining when he became involved in an on-track incident that forced his retirement from the race. The result left Goosen classified down the order after completing five laps.
Despite the setback, the weekend provided valuable experience for the rookie driver as he begins his first full campaign in the national championship.
“It was a tough weekend, but there were definitely positives to take from it,” said Goosen. “The pace was there, and we learned a lot that will help us going forward. A big thank you to my sponsors and the entire team for all their hard work and support. I’m really looking forward to the next round and coming back stronger.”
Goosen’s attention now turns to Round 2 of the Astron Energy Polo Cup, which will see the championship head inland to Red Star Raceway in Mpumalanga over 17–18 April, where the young Pretoria driver will be eager to convert his pace into stronger results.
Published by: Raymond Cornwell
Picture Caption: Jayden Goosen
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