Summarize

Traditionally a series that saw stalwart drivers showing the younger set how it’s done, the ATE VW Challenge has exploded into a thrilling new era following a year of consolidation in 2025. Young drivers emerged a dominant force as thrilling racing across the board saw Josh Moore, Keegan Nathan and Bryce Pillay open their seasons with class wins at Zwartkops’ Gauteng Regional Extreme Festival opener on Saturday.

Class A rookie Josh Moore made his intentions known from the start by claiming pole position in his Worx BPW Puma Polo. Anthony Lessing’s Raless car lined up second with Chris Tait’s King Price Extreme machine alongside Francis Aldrich on row 2. Experienced trio, lan Walker’s Mellow Velo, Dewald Theron’s Mweza Trans and refugee Class B champion Stuart Mack’s AutoZone Polo 6Rs followed from newcomer Drikus du Plessis.

Debutant 111 Class C champion Keegan Nathan put his Nathans Polo on the Class B pole from fellow rookie Keyaan Dwomoh and another 111 graduate, Sebastian Bouilliart’s Applied Heat car. Both Nathan and Bouilliart are second generation GTi Challenge racers. Another rookie, Max Corbett lined up fourth ahead of Northern Bolt & Tool sophomore Jonathan Konig while Chris Davison’s GSI entry struggled to sixth. 

2025 runner up Bryce Pillay had little trouble in opening his 2026 season with the Class C Brat Pack pole position in his Sustech Vivo. He’d line up next to Stuart Konig’s similar Norther Bolt car, Dimitri Zapheriou, Kyle Petersen, and Philip Croeser’s ATE Vivo. Close times in all three classes qualifying suggested a competitive day ahead. The opening race would certainly prove a humdinger…

Pole lad Josh Moore led from the start with Anthony Lessing shadowing his every move.

Until Moore had a mid-race moment. That allowed Lessing to slip by into the lead. Only for Josh to fight back as they ran side-by-side for a lap. Until Anthony decided discretion to be the better part of valour, backed out, and followed Moore home in second. Behind them Chris Tait was third from Aldrich, Walker, Theron, and du Plessis.

Keegan Nathan ran away with the opening Class B race with Sebastian Bouillart and a recovered Chris Davison and Jonathan Konig in chase. Keyaan Dwomoh grabbed fifth from Max Corbett on the final tour. Class C however proved an intense battle. Bryce Pillay led until he too slipped up at turn 4. That allowed Stuart Konig to grab a lead he held onto despite Pillay’s best efforts to force his way back. Dimitri Zapheriou completed the class podium ahead of Kyle Petersen and Philip Croeser.

The second race was straightforward up front. Josh Moore led from lights to flag from Anthony Lessing and Francis Aldrich on a debut Class A podium. Stuart Mack bounced back to fourth after his first race retirement ahead of rookie Drikus du Plessis. Tait, Walker, and Theron did not start. Keegan Nathan did the Class B double from a fired up  Chris Davison, Sebastian Bouillart, Konig, Dwomoh and Corbett. 

The second Class C encounter however proved another humdinger. Bryce Pillay took the early initiative. But he had to yield to a bold overtaking move from Stuart Konig. Pillay was having none of that, however. He fought back and found a way past to take the win ahead of Konig, Dimitri Zapheriou, Petersen, and Croeser. 

Overall, Moore took Class A from Lessing and Aldrich, Nathan won Class B from Davison and Bouilliart and Pillay emerged on top in Class C from Konig and Zapheriou. The ATE VW Challenge heads to the Red Star Raceway near Delmas next for its second round Saturday 16 May.