Goosen Fights Back After Aldo Scribante Opening Race Retirement

Jayden Goosen’s weekend at Aldo Scribante Racetrack promised plenty on Friday, but by Saturday morning, the Pretoria teenager was left wondering what might have been.

Competing in Round 4 of the Astron Energy Polo Cup in Gqeberha, Jayden looked strong from the start. He found a good pace in qualifying and made it through to the Superpole Shootout for the top six, putting himself in a solid position to challenge near the front.

It was the kind of Friday both driver and team had worked hard for. The AA-backed Polo Cup car was quick, tidy and right in the mix. But Race 1 was over almost before it had begun.

Jayden was caught up in an opening-lap incident, which brought his race to an early end and wiped away all the hard work from the day before. What could have been a strong points finish, and possibly even a podium challenge, turned into a frustrating DNF.

With the disappointment behind him, and his usually pristine AA-backed Polo Cup now showing the scars of battle, Jayden returned for Race 2 with a point to prove.

Starting from 15th on the grid, he put his head down and went racing. Lap by lap, he worked his way forward, picking off positions and reminding everyone why he ended the 2025 season with a standout wildcard victory.

By the chequered flag, Jayden had climbed to eighth, salvaging a result from a weekend that could so easily have slipped away completely.

“Friday was really positive for us, so to have all that hard work ruined in one moment was very disappointing,” said Jayden. “I felt we had the pace to fight for a podium, which made Race 1 even harder to accept. But I’m really grateful to the team for getting the car back together and giving me the chance to go out again in Race 2. At least we could show our pace, move forward, and prove what we were capable of.”

While the final results did not tell the full story of Jayden’s weekend, Aldo Scribante again showed his speed, maturity and ability to fight back when things do not go his way.

It was a tough weekend on paper, but one that proved there is plenty more to come.