What Extreme Festival presented by Coca-Cola Round 5 Report
Where East London Grand Prix Circuit
When Saturday 19 July 2025
Community South Africa National
van der Watt’s first SA Touring Cars win of ’25
Chemical Logistics Racing came home from the East London Grand Prix Circuit’s Extreme Festival presented by Coca-Cola with a race win, overall honours and three of its cars in the South African Touring Cars top four on Saturday. It was also a trying weekend for the team with one car eliminated in qualifying before a championship contender retired for the weekend from second at the final turn of the opening heat.
Chemical Logistics WCT man Julian van der Watt arrived on the front foot as he topped the practice time sheets while looking for his first win of the season in his Volkswagen Golf GTI. “We followed that up with pole position before I enjoyed a great dice for the lead of the opening heat with Keegan Campos’ BMW,” Julian pointed out. I was in the lead when he stopped, but I’m delighted to finally win a race this season and move up to second in the championship.
The reverse-grid second race was tougher for Julian, who started sixth on the inverted grid. “As luck would have it, the Toyotas once again ended third, fifth and sixth in the opening heat and filled the front of the grid,” van der Watt added. “So my title rival Michael van Rooyen had opened a huge gap by the time I’d forced my way passed his teammates Sa’aad and Nathi. But I put my head down and came oh so close to catching and passing Michael. Still, we won the day, so hats off to the team for a great car today!”
East London was a great weekend for Andrew Schofield, who finally enjoyed a problem free weekend to score his best South African Touring Cars result of his career with fourth and third in the races and a happy third overall in his FlySafair Chemical Logistics FAST BMW 328tc. “I am over the moon to have finally put that bogey behind me with a podium third today, Andy beamed. “There was so much happening around me but I kept my head down and my nose clean for a great result. Well done team!”
Rookie Jagger Robertson enjoyed the highs as much as he rued the lows of racing on Saturday: “I was delighted with second behind Julian for a Chemical Logistics VW 1-2 in the first heat, but race 2 was frustrating. Following Julian through the pack, Nathi Msimanga took us both off and I slipped back to sixth, although the officials placed Nathi behind me in fifth after the race. It was an OK weekend for the championship though, where I’m still third, so thanks to the team for a positive weekend!”
It was not at all the outing that championship contender heading to East London, Keegan Campos had in mind aboard his Campos Transport FAST Racing BMW 328tc: “What looked good for a great championship haul turned to nothing when I lost drive while sitting second in the final corner of the first heat,” Keegan frowned. “I got out and pushed the car to the line to claim a few points but there wasn’t enough time to change the shaft so that was us for the weekend. We have not given up – let’s do this guys!”
Siyabonga Mankonkwana’s weekend came to an abrupt halt when he shunted his Investchem FAST Toyota Corolla in qualifying. Happily, he walked away from the sizeable accident that ended his weekend on the spot.
“East London was a busy weekend as always, but Chemical Logistics Racing is more than happy to come away with a race win, the overall victory and a pile of silverware,” team principal Ian Schofield concluded. “Well done to Julian on his first win of the season, Andy on his best result so far and to Jagger and the rest of the team for a positive, if trying weekend. Hard luck to Keegan and Siya, but they have plenty time to recharge before Killarney on 13 September.”
Issued on behalf of Chemical Logistics Racing
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