The Extreme Festival’s national roster is set to return to Red Star Raceway for the first time since 2022 this coming weekend (17-18 April) with a star-studded line-up of championship contenders.

While all series that will form part of the programme have raced around the clockwise layout of Red Star Raceway before, only three have featured there in the past 12 months. For the drivers, it is a mixed bag: many are experienced campaigners who have competed in other championships, while others will be less familiar with the circuit.

Despite being the newest of the series that will be in action on the weekend, the circuit did form part of the Investchem MSA4 brigade’s 2025 season. With a double-win and two fastest laps in the season opener, Mikel Bezuidenhout (Corsa Dei Gamelli) head up the points table from season debutant, Aqil Alibhai (APEX) and Renzo Ribeiro (Metal Used Spares). Bezuidenhout, who finished the 2025 season as championship runner-up, already has a win at the circuit.

Behind them, it will be the second round for the non-championship Formula Ford Kent field. Regular campaigners like Ian Schofield (Investchem), Rick Morris (Investchem), and Alan Meyer (Investchem) are set to head up this battle.

Red Star Raceway regularly features on the SunBet ZX10 Masters Cup calendar, with the circuit being a firm favourite for riders in South Africa. Damion Purificati (Amalgum Welding Shop) and Jayson Lamb (TyreMart EL) are tied at the top of the all-Kawasaki ZX10 series after they shared the wins and runner-up finishes in the season opener. Trevor Westman (Team Wayward), who completed the podium in both races, is third on the Series points table.

Westman holds the lead in Class A from Hein McMahon (K9 Law Enforcement) and Keith Agliotti (TNB Global). Purificati is heading up Class B from Henk Kruger (Zeemans) and Byron Rothquel (Mag Magic Repairs). In Class C, Lamb is leading James Barson (Proproof Waterproofing) and Reginald Seale (HXCS).

A notable omission at the time of writing is the defending champion, Clinton Seller. Should he enter ahead of the weekend, he will compete in Class A.

Hannes Scheepers (Dainfern Dental Studio) is currently the driver to beat in the Astron Energy Polo Cup. He won both races in the all-Volkswagen Polo GTI brigade’s opening round from Roshaan Goodman (Upward Spiral), while Shiren Rajpaul Goldwagen Springfield Park), and Pierluigi Muzzulini (FSS International) are tied in third. Scheepers and Muzzulini, both of whom competed in the VW Challenge at the Delmas circuit in recent years, will have a slight edge over the rest.

Behind them will be the battle in the Masters Class. The defending two-time champion Wayne Masters (Performance Masters) and Derick Smalberger (Sabertek) are tied at the top of the points table after sharing the wins, runner-up spots, and fastest laps in the season opener. Both drivers are also familiar with the circuit thanks to VW Challenge outings, while third-placed John Kruger (Team Red) will channel his circuit experience from the Lotus Challenge.

Also back after the four-year absence will be the South African Touring Car field. KC Ensor-Smith (African Heating Volkswagen Golf 8 GTI) holds a slight advantage over fellow debutant, Jason Coetzee (Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota Corolla) after the season opener. While Red Star Raceway will be a new hunting ground for Coetzee, Ensor-Smith already has an Investchem MSA4 win at the circuit to his name. Back on the grid for Round 2 will be the former three-time champion Robert Wolk, who will move to a Chemical Logistics Golf 8 GTI this season. Keegan Campos (Veloce Automobili BMW 128ti) is also back after the season opener, where he competed in the Investchem MSA4 championship. A driver who will look to channel his fond memories of the circuit is the defending champion, Michael van Rooyen (Toyota Gazoo Racing Toyota Corolla). On the Series’ first visit to the circuit in 2019, it delivered the first win for both Van Rooyen and Toyota, while the 2022 visit saw the first win in the series for the Volkswagen Golf 8 GTI.

Behind this pack will be the SATC SupaCup. Two wins see Jason Loosemore (Nathan’s Motorsport Volkswagen Polo SupaCup) at the top, ahead of season debutants Rory Atikinson (Easy Drive Vehicle Plans Volkswagen Polo SupaCup) and Judd Bertholdt (Union Power Energy). Both Atikinson and Bertholdt have VW Challenge experience at the circuit, from 2023 and 2024, respectively. Loosemore’s last outing at the circuit was in 2019’s INEX Legends championship. The weekend will also see the return of Brad Liebenberg (Sparco Volkswagen Polo SupaCup), the series’ most successful driver.

While the GR Cup had previously visited the circuit in 2022, that was in their inaugural season, with only the Yaris Media contingent. With a host of changes for the series since then, this will effectively be a first competitive outing for the current contingent.

Kobus Reyneke heads up the GR 86 field from Connor Weston. Third-placed Emma Dowling has not entered Round 2. Nabil Abdool will look to continue his solid form in the Media Challenge as he looks to make it two successive titles. Craig Nicholson and Tayedza Mbiri are the other early contenders. Devon Scott leads Werner Venter and Theo Brits in the Dealer Challenge.

Spectator tickets can be purchased at the Red Star Raceway entrance gate at R150 per adult, and with children under 12 entering for free. Saturday’s full race programme will be broadcast live on the Extreme Festival website.