What Volkswagen Rookie Cup Finals Report
Where Zwartkops Raceway, Pretoria
When Saturday 17 October 2026
Community South Africa National
Sebastian seals title with Zwartkops victory & podium
Sebastian Dias wrapped up the 2026 Volkswagen Rookie Cup title at Zwartkops Raceway’s National Extreme Festival finale on Saturday. Dias entered the weekend leading a tense four-way title fight, but a race one win and third in heat two secured him the crown. Sebastian Venkov took overall round honours by just one second on aggregate after winning the second race.
Venkov edged Dias by 0.025 seconds to take pole in his 23 Degrees Polo Vivo GT on Friday. Anwill April’s Pedro April Consulting version lined up third, ahead of Luke Hill’s Steel Form car, Keyaan Dwomoh in his Adhive Vivo, Jack Moore’s Fleet Dynamics entry, and Max Corbett for Century Racing.
Dias jumped into the lead at the start of Race 1 and stayed there, winning by 1.5 seconds from Hill and Venkov. April finished fourth ahead of Dwomoh, Corbett, and Moore. Venkov then led race 2 into Turn 1 with Hill second and Dias slotting into third as April dropped to the back on the opening lap.
Venkov drove away to win by 2.7 seconds from Dwomoh, with Dias third to clinch the championship. Corbett finished fourth ahead of April and Hill, while Moore retired on lap four. So Venkov took the overall day by one second over Dias, with Dwomoh third from April, Corbett, Hill, and Moore.
Dias’ title earns him a factory-supported Volkswagen drive in the 2027 Astron Energy Polo Cup. “Wow, what a brilliant Volkswagen Rookie Cup season that was!” Mike Rowe wrapped it up. “Congratulations to Sebastian on a splendidly hard fought title! We now look forward to watching him grow next year, and to welcoming a new crop of Volkswagen Rookies aboard next year.”
Applications for the 2027 Volkswagen Rookie Cup are now also open. “We invite top karters and other young motor sportsmen and women who will be fourteen years or older next year, to contact us now with a view to the new season,” Mike Rowe concludes. “There are few better ways to prepare a youngster for his or her future race career than the Volkswagen Rookie Cup, so we look forward to their applications!”
A Volkswagen Motorsport initiative open to drivers between 14 and 16 years old holding a valid MSA licence, the Rookie Cup Academy transitions drivers from karting or similar to the main circuit. Volkswagen factory drivers and crew train the recruits in every racing facet. The 2026 Rookie champion will have the choice of a drive in either the Astron Energy Polo Cup, or Volkswagen-powered MSA4 in 2027. Young drivers interested in joining the Rookie Cup should email driving@vwsa.co.za with the subject line ‘Ref: VW Rookie Cup.’ Volkswagen’s Rookie Cup Team will be in touch.
*Volkswagen Motorsport salutes its Rookie Cup racing partners, Dunlop Tyres, Astron Energy, Sparco and Volkswagen Advanced Driving.
Issued on behalf of Volkswagen Motorsport
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