Pretoria teenager Jayden Goosen will bring his rookie Astron Energy Polo Cup campaign to a close at the iconic Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit on 13–14 November, when the championship's seventh and final round forms part of the South African Endurance Series' Nine Hours of Kyalami weekend.
For the AA South Africa-backed driver, the season finale represents another opportunity to demonstrate the pace and skill that have characterised his first full year in the highly competitive one-make championship.
Goosen entered the 2026 season with plenty of promise after making a memorable Polo Cup debut at Zwartkops Raceway in October 2025. Competing as a wildcard at the championship's final round, the Pretoria youngster surprised the established field by claiming victory in his second race appearance, announcing himself as a driver to watch.
His first full season, however, has not always gone according to plan. Despite regularly demonstrating competitive pace, mechanical problems, racing incidents and other setbacks have frequently prevented him from achieving the results his performances deserved.
Last month's penultimate round at Zwartkops Raceway offered a welcome change in fortunes. Goosen was immediately on the pace, topping two of Friday's three practice sessions before progressing to the Superpole Shootout, where he secured third position on the grid.
He followed that performance with an impressive runner-up finish in the opening race, crossing the line behind championship leader Hannes Scheepers to claim a well-deserved podium. Although the second race proved more challenging, resulting in an eighth-place finish, Goosen ended the weekend fifth overall.
The result provided some much-needed encouragement for the youngster and his Lee Thompson Racing team, particularly after a season in which their efforts have not always been reflected in the final standings.
Attention now turns to Kyalami, one of South Africa's most prestigious motorsport venues. The circuit's combination of fast corners, technical sections and significant elevation changes will present a demanding challenge for the closely matched Polo Cup field.
The championship's inclusion in the South African Endurance Series finale adds further significance to the occasion, with the Polo Cup competitors sharing the programme with some of the country's leading endurance racing teams.
While the championship title remains undecided, Goosen will focus on delivering two competitive races and closing his rookie campaign on a positive note.
Having shown at Zwartkops that he remains capable of challenging the championship's front-runners, the Pretoria teenager will be hoping to carry that momentum into the season's final outing.
More importantly, a strong performance at Kyalami would provide a fitting conclusion to a year that has tested his resilience while giving him valuable experience at national championship level.
Polo Cup schedule — all times SAST
Friday 13 November
Practice 1 - 07:30–07:45
Practice 2 - 10:35–10:50
Practice 3 - 14:00–14:15
Qualifying 15:35–15:55
Saturday 14 November
Warm-up 07:25–07:35
Race 1 10:40–10:55
Race 2 - 14:15–14:30
Official programme: View the Kyalami event programme
Livestream: SAES Racing YouTube channel
Ticket Sales: https://computicket-boxoffice.com/e/nine-hours-of-kyalami-m9s0Fd/tickets
