Epic Rookie Cup wraps up at Zwartkops this weekend
The Volkswagen Rookie Cup heads into its explosive final round with its top four drivers separated by just 21 championship points and 24 points available at the Zwartkops Raceway National Extreme Festival decider on Saturday. Top four, Sebastian Dias, Luke Hill, Sebastian Venkov and Jack Moore have also all won races through the season to make it closer than ever as they march on Pretoria.
“We’ve enjoyed an epic Volkswagen Rookie Cup season and it all comes down to a closer than ever decider at the weekend’s Zwartkops Extreme Festival finale,” Volkswagen Head of Motorsport Mike Rowe explains. “There’s just 21 points between the top four, Sebastian Dias, Luke Hill, Sebastian Venkov and Jack Moore, and we still have 24 points on the table. So quite literally, any of them can win. Don’t forget Keyaan Dwomoh, Max Corbett, and Anwil April ready to play interference and we’re in for a great weekend on track.”
While the penultimate round was cancelled, Sebastian Dias was in commanding form as he took two of the three wins at the previous round to bounce to the top of the Rookie Cup points table in his PMD Transport Polo Vivo GT in the previous round. Which is why the winner of the first three races on the trot and Rookie Cup sophomore, Luke Hill will be desperate to turn it back around in his Versaflex version.
Never rule third placed Sebastian Venkov, who has also played himself into title contention with a recent double win in his 23 Degrees Vivo, or Puma Fleet Dynamics lad Jack Moore, who also won a race last time out, from this equation. Then there’s the rest of the pack ready to play interference. Adhive racer Keyaan Dwomoh, Century Racing lad Max Corbett and Anwil April are also all chasing their elusive maiden wins.
“We have an exceptional group of Volkswagen Rookies racing this weekend, so predicting a winner, or the champion out of this lot would not be wise,” Mike Rowe adds. “May the best young man win!”
Applications for the 2027 Volkswagen Rookie Cup are now also open. “We would like to invite top karters and other young motor sportsmen and women who will be fifteen years or older next year, to contact us now with a view to the new season,” Mike Rowe concludes. “There are few better ways to prepare a youngster for his or her future race career than the Volkswagen Rookie Cup, so we look forward to their applications!”
A Volkswagen Motorsport initiative is open to drivers between 14 and 16 years old holding a valid MSA licence, the Rookie Cup Academy transitions drivers from karting or similar to the main circuit. Volkswagen factory drivers and crew train the recruits in every racing facet. The 2026 Rookie champion will have the choice of a drive in either the Astron Energy Polo Cup, or Volkswagen-powered MSA4 in 2027. Young drivers interested in joining the Rookie Cup should email
*Volkswagen Motorsport salutes its Rookie Cup racing partners, Dunlop Tyres, Astron Energy, Sparco and Volkswagen Advanced Driving.