Championship pressure builds as the DigitFMS 111 & GT’s head to Delmas
The 2026 DigitFMS 111 & GT Sports and Saloons Championship heads to Red Star Raceway for the penultimate round of the season, and with just four heats and a maximum of 50 points remaining across the final two events, the championship fight is reaching crunch time.
In 111 Overall, just 13 points cover the leading three contenders. Henry van Vledder arrives at Red Star leading on 115 points, but Piet Potgieter is only four points back on 111, while Tihan van Rooyen remains right in the fight on 102.
Rob Clark on 87, Troy Starr on 82 and Melanie Spurr on 81 also remain mathematically capable of taking the title, but the immediate spotlight is firmly on Henry, Piet and Tihan. With 25 points available at Red Star alone, one difficult heat could completely change the complexion of the championship. 111 GT Points Updated 20260922
The class championships bring their own battles.
In Class A, Tihan leads Melanie 102–81. A 21-point advantage is significant, but with 50 still available, there is plenty left to race for.
Class B sees Piet sitting on 111 points with Mike O’Sullivan on 65. Piet’s 46-point advantage means he arrives at Red Star with his first opportunity to mathematically secure the class championship before the Zwartkops finale.
In Class C, overall championship leader Henry also has work to do. His 115 points give him a 28-point advantage over Rob Clark on 87, with Troy Starr on 82. Both remain mathematically alive, making every Class C result important not only to the class championship, but potentially the 111 Overall title as well.
There is also a change coming for Mimi Le Roux. Mimi will step back into Class X at Red Star as she begins the next chapter with an upgraded car — now with some added boost! It will be interesting to see where the new package places her on the Class X ladder.
Four drivers. Seven points. One GT Championship.
If the 111 battle is close, the GT Overall Championship is even tighter.
Jared Rossouw – 97
Wayne Robb – 96
Mark du Toit – 91
Jonathan Visser – 90
Just seven points cover all four, and mathematically these are now the only four drivers capable of winning the 2026 GT Overall Championship from the current standings.
With 25 points available at Red Star, the order could look completely different by Saturday afternoon.
There is already one championship decided, however. Jonathan Visser’s 90 points in GTB, against Wouter Roos on 37, gives him a 53-point advantage with only 50 remaining. That means the 2026 GTB Class Championship is mathematically secured, leaving the #21 Turbo Polo free to focus on the fight for GT Overall.
Red Star also welcomes back a particularly familiar machine. Marius Truter’s OG Golf Mk1 has found its way back home, and Marius will return with the car in GTB. It’s a combination many in the paddock will be very happy to see reunited.
Dirk Lawrence also makes a welcome return, although this time the Honda stays at home. Dirk goes back to his roots with his original Ford Laser, which will join the Class X field.
After a few months away from the driver’s seat, Kajaal Mohun and Dhiren Ganasen make their return to the series as well, adding two more familiar names to the Red Star grid.
Unfortunately, Shaun Holtshausen won’t make the trip. The engine repairs following his Round 5 failure could not be completed in time, and he’ll have to sit this one out.
Melanie Spurr and Wouter Roos will also be missing from the Round 6 grid, with Wouter swapping race duties for best man duties at Dricus du Plessis’ wedding in Paarl. We wish Dricus and his bride an incredible wedding day — although Wouter’s absence certainly comes at an interesting point in the championship!
Melanie’s absence has implications for Class A, where she currently sits second on 81 points behind Tihan van Rooyen on 102. With a maximum of 25 points available at Red Star, Tihan has a major opportunity to strengthen — and potentially settle — the Class A championship before the finale.
More than racing at Red Star
There will also be important business away from the circuit, with the DigitFMS 111 & GT Annual General Meeting taking place during the Red Star weekend.
Members will have the opportunity to review the season, discuss proposed changes and the future direction of the club, before electing a new committee for 2027. With the championship continuing to grow and evolve, member participation in the AGM will be every bit as important as the action on circuit.
And there should be plenty of that action.
Four points separate the top two in 111.
Thirteen points cover the top three.
One point separates the top two in GT.
Seven points cover all four GT title contenders.
And only 50 points remain.
At this stage of the season, every qualifying position matters. Every pass matters. Every mechanical failure hurts. And every championship point becomes increasingly valuable.
Some drivers will leave Red Star with one hand on a championship trophy.
Others could leave knowing everything will come down to the final round at Zwartkops.
Round 6. Red Star Raceway. The championship endgame begins.