Van Rooyen Targets Aldo Turnaround as SATC Reaches Halfway Mark

Defending South African Touring Cars champion Michael van Rooyen will be targeting a change in fortunes when the 2026 championship heads to the Eastern Cape for the first time this season, with Round 4 set to take place at the Aldo Scribante Raceway in Gqeberha next weekend.

The Rustenburg businessman arrives at the halfway point of the season sitting third in the championship standings, tied on points with his teammate, with the pair currently 28 points adrift of the championship leader. While Van Rooyen has shown flashes of the pace that carried him to the 2025 title, the opening half of his title defence has proved challenging, with mixed results preventing him from building the momentum he would have hoped for.

After a difficult start to the campaign at Killarney, followed by another demanding outing at Red Star Raceway, Van Rooyen showed improved form at Zwartkops last time out, where he claimed his first podium of the season. However, with the championship now reaching a crucial stage, he will know that consistent front-running results are needed if he is to remain firmly in the title fight.

Aldo Scribante was a strong hunting ground for Van Rooyen in 2025, where he finished as runner-up in the opening race before adding fourth place in the reverse-grid second race. Returning to the Eastern Cape venue as the defending champion, Van Rooyen will be hoping to draw on that previous form and reignite his campaign.

“It has definitely not been the easiest start to the season for us,” said Van Rooyen. “We have had the pace at times, but we have not quite been able to turn that into the results we need. Aldo Scribante was a good circuit for us last year, and I enjoy the challenge it brings. With this being the halfway point of the season, it is important that we start putting strong weekends together. The championship is still very much alive, but we need to make the most of every session and every race from here.”

The weekend’s action gets underway next Friday with three practice sessions, giving teams and drivers valuable track time ahead of Saturday’s competitive programme. Qualifying will take place on Saturday morning, followed by two races as Van Rooyen looks to close the gap and begin the second half of the season on the front foot.