What Volkswagen Motorsport Report
Where Zwartkops Raceway, Pretoria
When Saturday 17 October 2026
Community South Africa National
Tait takes maiden pole, Atkinson SupaCup runner-up
Volkswagen Motorsport ended its 2026 National Extreme Festival campaign on a high note at Zwartkops on Saturday, with drivers Christopher Tait and Rory Atkinson showing grit and pace in both Astron Energy Polo Cup and SATC SupaCup.
“Zwartkops was a tough finale, and both our factory drivers showed tremendous grit and determination,” Head of Volkswagen Motorsport Mike Rowe explains. “Christopher proved his outright pace by taking Superpole in Polo Cup, while Rory delivered a measured drive to put his SupaPolo onto the overall SupaCup podium to clinch second in the championship. Our Volkswagen Motorsport stairway of talent once again delivered great results with our 2025 Volkswagen Rookie Cup and Astron Energy Polo Cup champions making significant strides in our factory machines.”
Reigning Rookie Cup champion Christopher Tait delivered the headline Astron Energy Polo Cup moment on Friday afternoon. After navigating preliminary qualifying, Tait uncorked a 1 minute 11.121 lap to claim outright pole position in the one-shot Superpole shootout. Saturday’s races proved turbulent, however. Tait bogged down off the line in race one and dropped to twelfth on the opening tour. He battled hard in the midfield slipstream train to finish twelfth in heat one and tenth in race two, ending the day eleventh overall.
“Taking Superpole on Friday was an incredible feeling and a highlight of my season,” Tait confirmed. “My car was hooked up and everything came together perfectly. Unfortunately that ecstasy turned into agony and Saturday didn’t go our way. I fluffed my start unable to clearly see the lights and ended up in the mid-pack cauldron in race one. It’s so hard to make up places from there so it was a tough day at the office. But the pace is there, so a huge thank you to Mike Rowe and the Volkswagen Motorsport team for all the support this season. We have one more bite at the cherry, so bring on Kyalami!”
Veteran campaigner Rory Atkinson qualified fourth in SATC SupaCup and delivered a determined drive to hold off a train of pursuers to claim a superb second place behind champion and fellow Polo Cup champion Jason Loosemore in Race 1. Atkinson ran third for most of the second race before coming home fifth to seal third overall for the day. “We had a solid weekend to wrap up second in the SupaCup championship,” Atkinson reported. “Second in race one was great, and race two was typical SupaCup action. Huge thanks to Mike and the team for giving me a great car all weekend and an incredible season all round.”
“Both Christopher and Rory represented Volkswagen Motorsport with true professional racing spirit this season,” Rowe concludes. “They faced tough grids, overcame challenges, and consistently proved their speed and pedigree to run right at the front. We thank our partners, crews, and fans for another memorable year of racing.”
*Volkswagen Motorsport salutes its racing partners, Astron Energy, VW Genuine Parts, and Dunlop Tyres.
Issued on behalf of Volkswagen Motorsport
Photography by: Colin Windell & Volkswagen Motorsport
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