Summarize

There was no stopping the doctor as Hannes Scheepers sped to another double in the second round of the 30th Anniversary Astron Energy Polo Cup championship at the Red Star Raceway’s National Extreme Festival on Saturday. Scheepers remains unbeaten in the four races so far in 2026, while Wayne Masters also did the double as he continues in his quest to secure an Astron Energy Polo Masters hat trick

There was a surprise in qualifying on the Astron Energy Polo Cup’s return to the Delmas racetrack for the first time since 2022 when Charl Smalberger claimed pole position in his Sabertek OMP machine. Charl, a mechatronics engineer in his day job, finally broke his recent run of rotten luck. Smalberger first raced Polo Cup as a fifteen year old in two part seasons in 2012 and ’13, before returning last year. 

Smalberger took pole by two tenths from early championship leader Hannes Scheepers’ Dainfern Dental Studio Polo Cup. Third was another surprise in Rookie Cup graduate Mauro Da Luz’ Topshirt Nathans car ahead of equally impressive sophomore, Milan Emslie’s Triton machine. Roshaan Goodman’s Upward Spiral 1471 entry and Worx BPW lad Joshua Moore completed the top six to go through to Superpole. 

There was no change to the top three after Superpole, as Smalberger stamped authority over Scheepers by a tenth, with Da Luz third. Moore turned the tables to line up fourth ahead of Emslie and Goodman. Behind them, Auto Perfect Team Red lad Cyril Jr. Jacobs was another rookie to impress in seventh from Astron Energy Volkswagen Rookie Cup champion Christopher Tait, Shiren Rajpaul’s Goldwagen Polo Cup and AF Fans rookie lass Berlin Robinson in a happy tenth.

Automobile Association lad Jayden Goosen and Nirav Singh’s Kyalami Exhausts car, Union Power driver Bjorn Bertholdt, Liam Crystal, FSS International driver Pierluigi Muzzulini and newcomer Dean Ross’ Norbrake entry closed off the most competitive Cup Grid.

Qualifying on their own, Performance Masters veteran Wayne topped the over-50 Astron Energy Masters grid from Cup pole man Charl’s dad Derick Smalberger’s Sabertek OMP car and Habot Performance Lubricants entry John Kruger. Newcomer Albert Moffatt was a fine fourth from old hands, PABAR man Mike Barbaglia and FSS dad Elio Muzzulini.

Scheepers got the jump on pole man Smalberger at the start of race 1 to take a lead he’d not relinquish, with Moore up to third from Goodman, Da Luz, Tait, and a wild spat among their pursuers. Goodman and Da Luz put one on Moore, who was soon swallowed up in the writhing pack behind as Rajpaul and Goosen moved up to fifth and sixth.

Emslie hung in for seventh from Muzzulini in a brilliant run from fifteenth to eighth, Tait and Robinson in tenth. Debutant Dean Ross was another to impress from the back to eleventh ahead of Bertholdt, Singh, Jacobs Jr., and Moore, who slipped to the back. Wayne Masters had to fight Derick Smalberger all the way to the line for Masters honours ahead of Kruger, Barbaglia, Moffatt and Elio Muzzulini.

Smalberger’s fastest lap put him on pole position for race 2 from Scheepers once again with Goodman, Goosen, Rajpaul and Da Luz next up. Smalberger got away better, but Scheepers still forced his way by into turn 1. There was drama further back as Rajpaul literally spun through the pack to leave Liam Crystal hors de combat and Goodman third from Goosen, Da Luz, Tait, and Jacobs as Rajpaul recovered.

Smalberger tried every trick in the book to pass defensive doctor Scheepers in an entertaining dice for the lead while the battle for third became just as intense. Rajpaul battled Goosen and Da Luz with Tait and Emslie fighting hard behind them. Despite their efforts, Smalberger could not find a way past Scheepers, who went four wins out of four races so far in 2026. And Rajpaul held Goosen and Da Luz off for third, but Emslie ultimately pipped Tait for sixth.

Behind them Muzzulini made another remarkable comeback to eighth from Jacobs Jr, Bertholdt in tenth and the recovered Rajpaul. Moore was next from Singh and Ross after Robinson dropped back. And Wayne Masters did the Masters double from Smalberger, Kruger under pressure from Barbaglia, Moffat and Elio Muzzulini. Hannes Scheepers duly took the day overall from Charl Smalberger, Goodman, Da Luz, Goosen and Rajpaul. Masters beat Smalberger and Kruger to the Masters win.

The 30th birthday Astron Energy Polo Cup remains on the highveld for the next round 3 of the National Extreme Festival at the Zwartkops Raceway in Pretoria on Saturday 23 May.