This past weekend (7-8 August) saw Gqeberha’s motorsport fans enjoy the first of two consecutive Extreme Festival rounds as the Tour’s regional roster entertained at the Aldo Scribante Raceway.
This was the first outing for most competitors on this leg of the tour in just under two months, and the first time they had visited the city since 2023.
The Dunlop V8 Supercars started Saturday’s race programme, the first of two series to have three races on the day. Terry Wilford (Ford Mustang) started this day with a win, holding off the defending champion Warren Lombard (Ford Mustang). Franco di Matteo (Jaguar XKR), who qualified third, was forced to retire before the start, which elevated points leader Thomas Reib (Chevrolet Corvette) to the final podium spot.
Di Matteo was back on the grid for the second race, though, and hounded Wilford to the line, but could not prevent him from making it two wins, nearly a lap ahead of third-placed Wayne Spicer (Chevrolet Corvette).
In Race 3, Reib was the comeback kid. Unable to make the grid for Race 2, he bounced back later in the afternoon to prevent Wilford from taking a hat trick. Lombard completed the podium.
The three DOE Formula Vee Partnered With CIM Lubricants races did not disappoint either. In the first two, it was Jaco Schricks (Rhema 2) who beat the hero from their previous round in Maputo, Kyle Watt (Rhema 2), with Gert van den Berg (Rhema 2) completing both podiums.
Schricks and Watt again featured on the Race 3 podium, but this time, they played second fiddle to Peter Hills (Rhema 2). Points leader Lendl Jansen (Rhema 2) had a bit of a challenging coastal outing. His best result was a sixth place in Race 1, before completing the day with an eighth and 13th place, respectively.
The BMW ///M Performance Parts Race Series delivered the double dose of entertainment, starting with the NA Cup. Richard Gerntholtz (BMW E30 M3) took his maiden Class B win in Race 1, while Andre van Vuuren (BMW E36 M3) made it seven wins in 2026 in Race 2. The pair traded the runners-up spot in the two races, while Ignus du Plessis (BMW E46 M3) took the final podium spot in both. Local wildcard, Timothy Ball (BMW E46 328ti) made his debut in the series with a pair of Class C wins, beating Claudio Jardim (BMW E36 330ii) and Ruan van der Walt (BMW E36 330i) in Race 1, while Nicholas Herbst (BMW E90 330) and Tihan van Rooyen (BMW E82 125i) completed the podium in the second outing. Henry Platt (BMW E36/7 Z3) took both Class D wins from Justin Brown (BMW E36 M3). Local driver Steven Phillips (BMW E26 328i) completed the podium in Race 1, but retired early in the second race.
Lee Thompson (BMW E92 M3 GT) had quite a miraculous turnaround of fortunes this weekend. By Friday afternoon, his participation in the BMW ///M Performance Parts Race Series Turbo Cup still looked very much in doubt due to a gearbox failure. However, without a single practice lap completed, he took pole position before annihilating Class A rivals Anton Pommersheim (BMW E46 M3 Turbo) and Leon Loubser (BMW E92 335i) in both races. Ethan Coetzee (BMW F30 340i) and Wessel Mostert (BMW E46 M3) traded the Class B wins. Lenard Archer (E90 335i) took the final podium spot in Race 1, with Dean Ball (BMW E36 328i Turbo) grabbing third in Race 2. Rainhardt Milelr (BMW E36 M3) and Oz Biagioni (BMW E46 M3) swapped the Class C wins, with Nicky Dicks (BMW E36 M3 Turbo) and Anand Naidu (BMW F80 M3) completing the respective podiums. It was a double win for Sayen Moodely (BMW F82 M4); Gerald Anthony BMW F82 M4) and Craig Herbst (E92 335i) completed the Race 1 podium. Herbst went one better in Race 2, with Michael Grobler (BMW E46 328i Turbo) in third.
The first DigitFMS 111 & GT Sports & Saloons, including SuperHatch, race was brought to an early halt following a series of accidents. Contact between Melanie Spurr (Volkswagen Golf) and Charl Weyers (Opel Corsa) saw the latter retire in a precarious position at Turn 2. Behind them, another incident left Wouter Roos (Volkswagen Golf), Rob Clark (Honda Ballade), and Hendrik Venter (Opel Corsa) against the barriers on the main straight. Venter came off worst as his car ended on its roof after a spectacular roll.
The race was restarted, and Wayne Robb (Ford Focus ST) took the Class GTA win from Mark du Toit (BMW Z4M). Du Toit took the Race 2 honours from Jared Rossouw (Volkswagen Polo). Jonathan Visser (Volkswagen Polo) took both Class GTB wins.
Lindsay Clur (Volkswagen Golf) won Class A in both races, with Spurr and Tihan van Rooyen (BMW E82 125i) alternating the runner-up spots. Piet Potgieter (Volkswagen Golf) won Class B from Mike O’Sullivan (Honda Ballade) and Ernest Heather (Volkswagen Polo) in both races. Troy Starr (Volkswagen Polo) and Henry van Vledder (Volkswagen Golf) traded the Class C top spots, with Dean Parker (Alfa Romeo Giulietta QV) and Clark completing the respective podiums. Mark Els (BMW E36) won Class X in both races. Mimi le Roux (Volkswagen Polo) was the sole Class D competitor.
In SuperHatch, Arthur Thorne (Volkswagen Polo), George Aldrich (Peugeot 206), and Joshua Du Toit (Honda Civic) won the respective T1, T2 and A classes in both races.
In the ATE VW Challenge, Josh Moore (Volkswagen Polo) took two wins on the day. Race 1 saw him beat Ian Walker (Volkswagen Polo) and Christopher Tait (Volkswagen Polo). Race 2 saw a fierce battle up front between Moore and Tait, with Francois Aldrich (Volkswagen Polo) completing the podium.
Luke Hill (Volkswagen Polo) was the sole Class T competitor.
It was also a double win for Sebastian Boulliart (Volkswagen Polo) in Class B. While he had a relatively easy victory in Race 1 over Jonathan Konig (Volkswagen Polo) and Chris Davison (Volkswagen Polo), Race 2 saw another close battle for the win, involving Max Corbett (Volkswagen Polo), while Konig finished third. Andy Gossman (Volkswagen Polo) and Elna Croeser (Volkswagen Polo) traded the Class C wins, with Stuart Konig (Volkswagen Polo) completing both podiums.
The next outing for the Extreme Festival’s regional roster will be at Zwartkops Raceway on 11-12 September. However, Aldo Scribante Raceway is in for its third and final Extreme Festival event of 2026 this coming weekend (14-15 August) when the national roster will be in action.