What Astron Energy Polo Cup 2026 Round 2 Preview
Where Red Star Raceway, Delmas
When Saturday 18 April 2026
Community South Africa National
Astron Energy Polo Cup back to Red Star raceway three years on
Dainfern dentist, Doctor Hannes Scheepers and the vastly experienced Wayne Masters head to Red Star Raceway near Delmas intent on protecting their respective early 30th Anniversary Astron Energy Polo Cup and Polo Masters advantages at the second round of the National Extreme Festival on Saturday 18 April.
It’s been three years since the Mpumalanga racetrack last hosted a National round, which means that much of the field will be racing in the Astron Energy Polo Cup there for the first time this weekend. Many have however experienced the circuit while competing in regional racing there over the years. Both Scheepers and Masters sit in the latter camp having raced extensively on the sweeping, twisty, and challenging Red Star in VW Challenge races.
Hannes Scheepers in fact burst onto the racing scene to win on debut in his first ever motor race in the super competitive Class B of the VW Challenge five years ago. He went on to take that title before moving up to Astron Energy Polo Cup two years ago. Showing immediate pace, Hannes was immediately a factor, winning regularly in 2025, before arriving at Killarney’s 2026 season opener with all guns blazing to dominate and seize that early advantage. His knowledge and experience there could also make Scheepers hard to beat in Delmas this weekend.
Scheepers and his Dainfern Dental Studio Polo Cup will however have his work cut out. Roshaan Goodman’s Upward Spiral 1471 kept Hannes honest throughout at Killarney and sits close enough behind in second to be a concern. Third in the chase, Shiren Rajpaul’s Goldwagen version and FSS driver Pierluigi Muzzulini both have significant experience that could come in handy at Red Star. Rookie Cup graduate Mauro Da Luz will likely be on a steeper learning curve in his Topshirt Nathans Polo.
Kyalami Exhausts lad Nirav Singh will know Red Star well through his regional exploits, but perhaps not as well as Sabertek OMP Charl Smalberger, who certainly is due a break after a tough 2025 continued into the first round. Union Power lad Bjorn Bertholdt is another driver with good regional experience of Red Star while former Rookies, Worx BPW lad Joshua Moore, Jayden Goosen’s Automobile Association entry and AF Fans lass Berlin Robinson have all raced there in regional classes.
Another young man out to make a point is Astron Energy Volkswagen Motorsport Rookie Cup champion Christopher Tait. He can also rely on his VW Challenge experience at Red Star as he looks to improve on a challenging opening weekend at Killarney. Another former Challenge lad Milan Emslie lines up in his Triton Polo, while newcomers Cyril Jacobs Jr.’s Auto Perfect Team Red and Liam Crystal complete the Cup field.
Rest assured that the entire Astron Energy Polo Masters grid knows Red Star Raceway very well. Performance Masters veteran Wayne Masters and second placed Derick Smalberger’s Sabertek OMP car have enjoyed hundreds of laps dicing there in their VW Challenge days, while John Kruger has also seen it all. Better known for his more recent rallying exploits, Shield man George Smalberger raced against Masters in Production Cars twenty years ago, while PABAR driver Mike Barbaglia raced against Kruger in Group N in the late 1980s. FSS dad Elio Muzzulini and Masters rookie Robert Moffat’s Haupt car make up the Masters grid.
Conveniently close to Gauteng just off exit 485 on the N12 Freeway, Red Star Raceway always makes for a great motorsport outing with great facilities, catering, and entertainment. And, no doubt, excellent 30th birthday Astron Energy Polo Cup and the rest of the National Extreme Festival racing action on track. See you there, Saturday 18 April!
*Volkswagen Motorsport salutes its Polo Cup partners, naming rights sponsor Astron Energy, Dunlop, Pabar and Ferodo.
Issued on behalf of Volkswagen Motorsport
Photography by: Abri de Bruin
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