What National Extreme Festival Round 4 Preview
Where Aldo Scribante, Gqeberha EP
When Saturday 27 June 2026
Community South Africa National
Scheepers has won six of seven Astron Energy Polo Cup races
It’s a big day as the 30th Anniversary Astron Energy Polo Cup heads home to the Aldo Scribante racetrack in Gqeberha for round 3 of the National Extreme Festival, just around the corner from Volkswagen Plant Kariega on Saturday 27 June. There is however one man to beat as Hannes Scheepers continues among the winningest streaks in the 30 year history of Polo Cup, and as Wayne Masters continues to chase a unique Astron Energy Polo Masters hat trick.
Dainfern dentist Scheepers caused a stir when he won on debut in Class B of the competitive VW Challenge in 2022 before securing that title. He stepped up to Polo Cup, where he took his time to steadily pick up the nuances of the hard-to-crack series that’s delivered South Africa’s finest driving talent over the past three decades. Scheepers hit a purple patch, and a maiden win at the end of 2025 and has not looked back this season as he heads to Aldo Scribante as firm favourite.
The experienced Charl Smalberger and his Sabertek OMP Polo are the only combination to have beaten Scheepers, taking the final heat at Zwartkops last time out. Others to have kept Hannes honest at times include the consistent Roshaan Goodman and his Upward Spiral 1471 entry, Volkswagen Rookie Cup graduate Mauro Da Luz in his Topshirt Nathans car and Durbanite Shiren Rajpaul’s Goldwagen Polo Cup.
There’s a huge spat going on behind them in the Astron Energy Polo Cup’s wild mid-pack cauldron, where the likes of Automobile Association lad Jayden Goosen, FSS International driver Pierluigi Muzzulini, Cup sophomore Milan Emslie’s Triton entry, Astron Energy Volkswagen Rookie Cup champion Christopher Tait and Nirav Singh’s Kyalami Exhausts car have fought hard all season.
Others to watch for include, Union Power driver Bjorn Bertholdt, rookie racers Berlin Robinson’s AF Fans Polo, Cyril Jacobs Jr.’s Auto Perfect Team Red, Joshua Moore’s Worx BPW Polos, Liam Crystal and Norbrake entry Dean Roos, who impressed on debut last time out at Red Star.
Racing just behind the Polo Cup Performance Masters veteran, Wayne Masters continues to exert an iron grip on the over-50 Astron Energy Polo Masters. His toughest competition comes from Charl’s dad Derick Smalberger, who starred last time out in his Sabertek OMP car, while Habot Performance Lubricants entry John Kruger is always in the picture. Add PABAR man Mike Barbaglia and FSS entry Elio Muzzulini, newcomers Albert Moffatt and Richard van Heerde.
Racing its thirtieth season in 2026, Astron Energy Polo Cup promises to thrill Volkswagen’s home fans in Gqeberha on Saturday 20 June. See you at Aldo Scribante!
Volkswagen Motorsport salutes its Polo Cup partners, naming rights sponsor Astron Energy, Dunlop, Pabar and Ferodo.
Issued on behalf of Volkswagen Motorsport
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