Volkswagen Motorsport enjoyed a positive start to its 2025 racing season at Killarney’s Extreme Festival powered by Coca-Cola in Cape Town on Saturday. South African champion Jonathan Mogotsi ended a fighting third ahead of rookie Astron Polo Cup champion teammate Jason Loosemore in his debut in the SATC SupaCup races. Rookie Cup champion Judd Bertholdt came home a solid eighth in his first Astron Energy Polo Cup foray.
“We had a good start to our 2025 season,” Volkswagen Head of Motorsport Mike Rowe confirmed. “We had a little hometown resistance in the SATC SupaCup races, but Jonathan Mogotsi and Jason Loosemore enjoyed a strong start, while our Astron Energy Polo Cup rookie Judd Bertholdt put in a most workmanlike effort too.”
Jonathan Mogotsi qualified third and couldn’t do much but watch Tate Bishop and Charl Visser drive away up front in the first race. Mogotsi fought his way past Bishop for second before holding the home hero off for much of the second heat, before Bishop finally found a way past and Mogotsi settled for third in the race and overall. “Our Cape home rivals had an ace up their sleeve today, so hats off to Tate and Charl on a job well done,” Mogotsi conceded. “We move up to our back yard, so it’s time to stamp our home time advantage at Kyalami next time out. Thanks so much to the team for a great effort today.”
SupaCup rookie and Astron Energy Polo Cup champion Jason Loosemore qualified fourth for his debut SupaCup race before holding station through the opening race. It was much the same in race 2 but for a penalty for a first race bump that dropped Loosemore to sixth in the heat, but that was not enough to change his debut fourth and best of the SupaCup rookies. “That was a big weekend of learning, but I am very happy with my pace and to be so close to the front, especially up against some local drivers who are really quick at Killarney. Now it’s time to look ahead, work on all the little things and take the challenge to the leaders. Thanks team! Can’t wait for Kyalami!”
Rookie Cup champion Judd Bertholdt started with decent pace in practice, but struggled to eleventh in qualifying, a particular Astron Energy Polo Cup challenge for new drivers. Bertholdt made up a place early on but was caught on the outside, lost positions and spent the rest of the race fighting back to tenth. His pace was good enough for sixth on the second race grid, where he fought hard to end seventh and best rookie. A strong final heat saw Bertholdt rise from thirteenth to ninth and end eighth overall behind outgoing Rookie champion Kyle Visser.
“Qualifying was pretty tough and that set us a bit on the back foot for the rest of the day, so I’m pretty chuffed to have fought back to eighth for the day,” Bertholdt admitted. “We need to work on my qualifying, but I learned so much today. I can’t wait for Kyalami where I can put all that onto practice and keep on progressing. Thanks to my great team for all the coaching and advice, its onward and upward from here!”
“We may not have come out firing as hard as we would have liked to, but Volkswagen Motorsport can be happy with a positive start to our 2025 season,” Rowe concluded. “Well done to our drivers and the whole team on a solid effort. Now for round 2 on 11 and 12 April. See you at Kyalami!”
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