Johannesburg, 21 May 2024 – The second round of the Volkswagen Motorsport Rookie Cup at the Zwartkops Extreme Festival delivered electrifying action and showcased the remarkable skills of its young drivers. The spotlight was initially on Durban’s Dhivyen Naidoo, following his commanding performance at Killarney. However, it was Judd Bertholdt who ultimately stole the show with a stunning double victory.
In the qualifying session, former karting stars Jayden Goosen and Uzair Khan secured the top spots, with Naidoo, Bertholdt, and Josh Moore close behind. Despite their strong starts, Goosen and Khan faltered, allowing Naidoo to seize the lead, followed by Bertholdt and Moore, with coach Daniel Rowe also in the mix. A fierce battle ensued among the top three, with Moore initially challenging Bertholdt, who then surged forward to chase down Goosen. Bertholdt expertly overtook a defensive Naidoo to clinch the lead, leaving Naidoo to fend off a determined Goosen for second place, while Moore and Khan followed closely.
The second race began with Moore on pole position, followed by Bertholdt, Goosen, Khan, and Naidoo, with coach Rowe blending into the competition. Both Moore and Bertholdt stumbled at the start, giving Naidoo an early advantage. Bertholdt quickly regained second place and pursued the leader, drawing level with Naidoo before an outside move went awry, dropping him to fourth behind Naidoo, Goosen, and Khan.
Naidoo managed to hold his lead, finishing ahead of Goosen and Bertholdt, who overtook Khan for third, with Moore in fifth. However, Naidoo received a penalty for his involvement in Bertholdt’s earlier incident, placing him behind Bertholdt. Goosen was also penalized for a jump start, resulting in a double win for Bertholdt, with Naidoo classified second, followed by Khan, Moore, and Goosen.
“Today’s Rookie Cup races showcased brilliant performances from our young drivers,” commented Mike Rowe, Head of Volkswagen Motorsport. “The racing was exceptional, and it’s clear that our participants are continually improving. We’re thrilled to see new talents like Judd Bertholdt emerging as winners.”
The Volkswagen Rookie Cup academy rigorously trains its recruits in all aspects of racing, including driver fitness, physical and mental preparation, teamwork, data analysis, and media training. This comprehensive program ensures that young talents are well-prepared for their future careers in motorsport.
Aspiring drivers interested in joining the Volkswagen Rookie Cup can email [email protected] for more information.
