Johannesburg, March 2025 – Volkswagen Motorsport launched its 2025 racing campaign on a positive note at the Killarney Extreme Festival powered by Coca-Cola in Cape Town this past weekend. With strong performances across the board, the team now turns its attention to the next challenge at Kyalami, its home circuit.
In the SATC SupaCup, reigning South African champion Jonathan Mogotsi showcased his racecraft with a hard-fought third-place finish. His teammate, reigning Astron Energy Polo Cup champion Jason Loosemore, made an impressive SupaCup debut, securing fourth place overall. Meanwhile, rookie cup champion Judd Bertholdt demonstrated resilience in his first Astron Energy Polo Cup outing, finishing a commendable eighth overall.
Mogotsi Battles Hard for SupaCup Podium
Mogotsi qualified third and found himself in a tight battle with local frontrunners Tate Bishop and Charl Visser in the opening race. Although unable to close the gap to the leaders initially, he managed to overtake Bishop for second place in the second heat. However, Bishop retaliated in the latter stages, leaving Mogotsi to settle for third in both the race and overall classification.
“Our Cape home rivals had an ace up their sleeve today,” said Mogotsi. “Hats off to Tate and Charl for a great drive. Now, we head to our own backyard, and it’s time to capitalize on our home advantage at Kyalami. Huge thanks to the team for their effort today.”
Loosemore Impresses in SupaCup Debut
Stepping up from his Polo Cup title-winning season, Jason Loosemore adapted quickly to the competitive SupaCup field. He qualified fourth and held his position in the opening race. A minor penalty for an earlier racing incident saw him drop to sixth in the second heat, but his overall performance remained strong, earning him fourth place and the title of best-performing SupaCup rookie.
“That was a massive weekend of learning,” Loosemore reflected. “I’m happy with my pace and my ability to run close to the front, especially against such strong local competition. Now it’s time to refine the details and push even harder at Kyalami. Thanks to my team—I can’t wait for the next round!”
Bertholdt Gains Valuable Experience in Polo Cup Debut
For rookie Astron Energy Polo Cup driver Judd Bertholdt, it was a weekend of adaptation and perseverance. Qualifying presented an initial challenge, with Bertholdt securing eleventh place. Despite early race setbacks, he showed great determination, making up positions and ultimately finishing eighth overall.
“Qualifying put us on the back foot, but I’m pleased with the way we fought back,” said Bertholdt. “I’ve learned so much today, and I’m looking forward to applying it at Kyalami. Huge thanks to my team for all the support—I’m excited for what’s ahead!”
Eyes Set on Kyalami
Volkswagen Motorsport Head of Motorsport, Mike Rowe, was optimistic about the team’s opening performance. “While we may not have dominated as much as we aimed to, this was a strong start to our 2025 season,” Rowe stated. “Well done to our drivers and the entire team for their hard work. Now, we focus on Round 2 at Kyalami on 11-12 April. We’ll be ready!”
Volkswagen Motorsport extends its gratitude to its racing partners, Astron Energy, VW Genuine Parts, and Dunlop Tyres, for their continued support. See you at Kyalami!
