Summarize

Giordano Lupini’s incredible season of CompCare Polo Cup racing continued at his home track over the weekend. The Franschhoek youngster started the season late and has enjoyed a rollercoaster year on track, bursting back onto the scene with a dominant grand slam victory, also at Killarney, before going upcountry and winning in his Jozi rivals’ Zwartkops backyard too.

“We were not supposed to even race this year but decided last moment to enter our Tork Craft Volkswagen at Killarney in March," Gio explains. “That was a bit of a surreal weekend, but my mom must have packed some special pasta for padkos that day, because we dominated with two race wins, two fastest laps and a lap record off pole position on a day none of us will ever forget! 

“So we entered the next race up at Zwartkops and trekked up to Pretoria. I put it on pole position once more, and won again there, which is a huge feather in our little Cape team’s cap. It’s been a wild ride since, but to have won four times in South Africa’s most competitive national championship, scored four pole positions, three of them on the trot at Killarney, and set several fastest laps and records, was way beyond expectation.

“Best of all, we did all that as a tiny three man team with my race engineer Nian, my dad and me, towing around the country on the tightest possible budget against some highly professional teams and outfits who have left nothing to spare from the outset. One thing we had more than enough of doing that, was fun, so I’d say that’s job done! 

“Huge thanks to all our fans and supporters back home and around the country. And our greatest appreciation to our sponsors, Tork Craft Tools, Red Earth Projects, Bullion IT, Pabar Auto Components, Accident Guru, Nian du Toit Racing, and everyone who made a difference. It’s been a blast!”