A quick, FACTUAL, if not somewhat angry REPORT……

This was supposed to be a quick ‘prequel’ and placeholder of what would be a ‘warts and all’ story from a Dad who truly believed in developing genuine motorsport talent in SA but its a bit more than that, but far from all of what happened! Most motorsport Dads (and entire families) give life, soul and savings to get our youngsters on track to develop their skills on legal equipment (equal ground) alongside a strict set of rules (and hopefully enforced) with the goal to then take South African talent to the world and prevail.

However, after 13 years of supporting my son’s racing career in South Africa (as well as creating initiatives to help other parents and drivers), 2025 has been a shocking eye opener of note. I have witnessed first hand (no conjecture here or guessing… actual irrefutable data, evidence, findings and documented events which I will gladly and transparently make available) that large elements of the motorsport ‘machine’ of SA is broken. It has illegalities, lies, cover-ups, nepotism, theft (of podiums from youngsters in legal cars that actually deserve it as well as our money) and worse still, no admission or apology to the racing community when caught red-handed. Just more lies and excuses in its absence.

I would also like to make it clear that this is not sour grapes, as our driver won the SA National Championship in Supa Cup despite the behaviour of the Series owners and their team with a spare round to go… which just goes to show that talent and goodness can sometimes prevail against this (not usually). This is actually worse than sour grapes, instead it is my deep deep deep disgust and anger of what certain people have (actually) done to the very fabric of trust in our sport, the power and control they abused and continue to do so. The youngsters and families they have stolen trophies from, the sponsorship money they still continue to benefit from instead of more worthy recipients (even though all the other competitors were the only ones using a 100% version of what their main Sponsor sells, which I am sure the sponsors are not aware of) and the misinformation that continues to this day to try and hide what really is the lowest of the low in any sport.

These are also the same people that I unavoidably have to pay hundreds of thousands of rands to this year alone (don’t want to count the last five!) in maintaining a VW car to chase results in a series we are supposed to have an (equal) chance of winning, as has everyone else. In business that is called ‘corruption’ and people can go to prison for it… in Motorsport people are just too scared to call it anything, let alone look for it in the first place, and certainly never speak about it publicly although everyone on the grid knows or suspects it.

I am beyond livid not only as a Dad (and sponsor) but also as someone passionately involved in promoting the growth of motorsport. I continue to be livid, but have been silent on this for ages still waiting for an apology … not to me, but to the whole SupaCup field and the whole of motorsport in SA. Instead, it’s being covered with misdirection - even to the point that those few of us personally involved in pursuing and uncovering these truths (finally) in 2025 are being referred to as ‘critics’ and ‘haters’ by the teams drivers, families, associates and friends who clearly don’t know the actual truth and how long it has been going on (and now how obvious all of that is based on all the historical available data we have seen). So so so bad……

VW’s despicable actions in SupaCup aside, you will also see that on this journey, despite mountains of evidence, irrefutable data and analysis from the countrys leading experts, and following due process over months to try and stop the perpetrator…. when the ‘serial killer’ was free and about to target their next victim, the cops were asleep on their phones and for a little while actually helped bury another next victim! In my personal view, the perpetrators are still very much armed and dangerous… leopards rarely change their spots. I say leopards, but maybe it’s just one or two, who knows.

Despite their best efforts for it not to happen, we obviously obtained official chemical analysis paperwork for the single event that was finally punished (not without having to go outside of our own countrys ‘machine’ in order to do so), but the data from earlier events also correlates perfectly to the chemistry results and related data is also equally damning, and it was that original data that started our hunt for the truth from round 2 at Kyalami after lap records were utterly smashed without any technical checks whatsoever. This however after our car was literally taken apart in the previous round in Cape Town when winning with no lap records, even to the point that someone on our team had to prove our intercooler water was actually water by drinking it. However, these cars are sophisticated and have extensive sensors, measurements and logging, and one thing we all know is…. data (now that we finally have access to see the important stuff) doesn’t lie!

After Kyalami and the performance and data we had analysed there, there were then a few of us all lobbying the ‘machine’ with this detailed data since then as we (with the aid of expert analysis) knew exactly there was a huge different in engine load, injector durations and essentially the engine receiving lots more fuel than any of ours (and we compared a good few and all of ours were the same). This generally means that unless you are illegally changing mechanical things like injectors, turbos and the such like (none of which us mere mortals have access to as only they have that access), you have to be using an additive in the fuel that makes the ECU demand more fuel because it can burn more fuel (with it’s additive). It is one of those two, so take your pick… data data data showed that it was the type of fuel (being not 100% Astron). Fact.

The next round came (PE) and on Friday’s practice we could see again their data (engine load) was through the roof. I had even imported ethanol testers (enough for 10 cars) from the US especially for this round and gave them to the VW TCs. Super easy to use as you just mix the petrol from the tank with water and instantly shows ethanol content in a minute, no need for expensive chemical test but shows up the one thing these SupaCups love. Of course these were quickly sidelined (now we know why) and as usual there was to be no meaningful fuel testing and I have never seen them since. But instead I decided to protest fuel on the day (very publicly) as a preventative measure and their data suddenly returned closer to normal levels on race day. However, when I asked a senior representative of the said company, they said it was because these cars are also used for Endurance so ethanol could be in the tank… absolutely not these particular ones I can assure you! Fuel additives and Ethanol have no place in a single SupaCup car on the grid this year as none are in Endurance spec or used as such.

Post this event, I wrote a full (email) letter to the Machine and the company and officials (a very nice and polite one) asking for more checks at the next round in Zwartkops and especially around fuel, and I made mention that it seems there may be a problem (as now we had more data showing a certain car with very different engine data to a number of ours over a number of events) and I also asked for controlled fuel. I was literally begging for the field to be equal and controlled.

At Zwartkops, quali came and went and there was no sign of controlled fuel or any checks. Then suddenly a bulletin was issued there was to be controlled fuel for Race 1 and we must drain our tank (which we did) and then controlled fuel was suddenly cancelled and instead we had to have our tanks sealed after the race which we did gladly. I was assured that there were measures in place. I filmed and watched fuel samples being taken and given that we had once again seen data that would show an additive was used , we were confident that this would be the end to this farce. However as the police were policing the police they conveniently didn’t file the paperwork for the tests to be done (I wonder why) but thankfully they were done anyway and then made available.

The ‘Machine’ then tried to have the definitive chemical test that became avaiable (and the same trusted Lab process used by the bigger SATC cars) deemed not eligible because of ‘failure of due process’. Of course the very people who were in charge of the ‘due process’ were the ones with fuel well out of range and illegal. Funny that. Obviously we were not taking that ridiculousness lying down as despite the mountains of data that we had provided (from multiple people) which we all knew was conclusive enough, we now had an actual chemical analysis from the day, from sealed tanks, on video which was irrefutable.

What happened after that, I will write about later if necessary…. but it involved a lot more misdirection and excuses from VW around replacing injectors and other misdirection and irrelevant junk, other countries and Head offices, ‘machines’, flights, meetings and a complete waste of a good few weeks of my life just to try and put a stop once and for all (haha I wish) to what had to be the very worst thing that could ever happen in motorsport. Especially given where this was emanating from as this was obviously not just a renegade ’Dad’ being caught fiddling with a spark plug in a single series, and clearly had much deeper implications for many people in many series in 2025, in the future and maybe in days gone by, who knows!

For those that don’t know how this could happen in the first place, you can’t really blame the ‘machine’ (much) here… the ‘machine’ trusts the leopard to run, control and check everything and abide to the rules (and tech regs) that they themselves approved, signed and use against the rest of us when they feel like it… and why wouldn’t they trust them, they are a global brand and a Public Listed Company. It’s quite shocking. Needless to say that the whole ‘TC’ process has changed (ever so) slightly since this all happened, but rest assured, the leopard(s) are still having their say and way too involved in all the wrong places and continue to get stroked for it! I was always taught that leopards rarely change their spots.. or maybe ‘cheetah’ would be a better use of animal name!

Motorsport and some of the players in it must change for the better and quickly. We have great talent here in SA without the means to jump on planes and pay the big fees abroad, but so much holding them back here at home on talent alone. The whole ‘machine’ seems more scared of upsetting the big boys as they think motorsport will suffer…. I can tell you categorically that Motorsport is (and has been) suffering BECAUSE of the likes of them (behaving like this) and our talent will certainly be better off in the long run without leopards like that. Starting and running a series is all well and good and deserved of praise, but it is not helping if the power the controllers have then ultimately corrupts which it most certainly has, then we are just wasting our money! PLEASE… we have a rule book, technical spec and morals… we just want to stick to those.

VW should also remember that we (as well as 90% of the field) also drive a VW with lots of big VW badges on and surely all wave a VW Flag (a legal and legitimate one) in any Championship. VW Motorsport did indeed win the SupaCup Championship this year as our SATC SupaCup/ SupaPolo is designed and built by them, our engine supplied, refreshed and sealed by them (bit of a concern there now ) and every single part on it is bought and replaced from them. For VW to try and win at all costs against a VW customer seems to make it even worse. One thing is for certain is that I personally won’t pay to race with them or against them ever again, nor would I advocate anyone to do so in anything under their sole jurisdiction and any hint of control or influence (and trust me that ‘influence’ is a big thing and spans far and wide!).

There is also another factor at play here that should mean that this should never have happened in the first place. This is a Public Listed Company whose representatives get paid a salary to be at the track, wear the brand and do what they do and also the Company uses that platform as a showcase to promote their road cars. Unlike us who pay to be there. A large Public Listed Corporate (and anyone who represents them) must always behave and act within rules, governance and a strict set of global and internal morals, codes and policies in any of the areas in which they do business or present themselves to the public. To some extent, they should actually be nice to you! VW global are very big on that and admirably so in the rest of the world and employ independent Company’s to ensure their governance is always spot on. In this context alone, the term ‘Cheating’ is perhaps what a father and son / daughter do when they cross into the grey areas of the rules when karting or racing….. it is of course absolutely wrong, and can end in a punishment (not death ) from MSA or the such like. However, when this behaviour is done by a Public Listed Company and / or their representatives or contractors, whilst still accountable to MSA for the race day rules, it moves well outside the auspices of MSA and also becomes a very different thing which is actually called Fraud or corruption, and people go to jail. Remember their Diesel scandal of misrepresenting just a few emission figures to the press and their customers. People did go to jail!

It is also very important to understand the extreme emotional context of this which makes us Dads so passionate and so angry about the despicable wrong in this… This is a big Public Listed Corporate with huge budgets taking away (illegally) from your own son or daughter and belittling and diminishing any growth and achievements they are thriving for (and in many cases being denied to achieve)…. let alone the money spent to do so (mostly spent with the very same Corporate). Then brushed under the carpet and ridiculous stories such as ‘they got their fuel from the wrong Astron pump’ (yes they really are saying that to anyone with lower than average brain cells!)…. but you would need petrol marked 100 Octane on the pump to actually be 97/98 measured RON octane and that does not exist in SA. I dare any parent to accept anyone (let alone a corporate) stealing so blatantly from their kids and then treat them as if they have done the wrong. Dont think so. …. However, if they had just put their hands up, apologised to all the drivers and admitted they had done wrong (which I was foolishly expecting) then I think we would all feel a lot better and I would not be writing this, but the lies, deceit and complete lack of accountability and misdirection continues.

This badly written blurb above only scratches the surface of all of this and what actually happened.…. and I have spared much of the official correspondence between us Competitors, ‘Machines’, Police, Leopards and everyone, and the work behind the scenes to try and make sure this did not end up like this. Whatever story you have been told or heard, this is the only the story and we gave all the relevant people due warning that we knew what was happening, that we wanted fair and equal racing and for VW to police the series properly and that of course the abuse of this and the cheating must stop. People wonder why we are still so angry, and why it should take Dads of competitors to ensure this all happens and a premium class has fair and equal racing!!! As you will have seen, we made every effort to make this preventative to just get these people to stop before they were caught and have the right checks in place to stop anything they were doing. There was no intention for people to get penalties by ‘surprise’ and we only ever wanted to race on equal ground and most definitely the same fuel as per the regs.

There is so much more that I would happily speak about openly, on air, TV or anywhere than waste more of our time and write this down (badly)…all the facts, the correspondence and documentation and tonnes of it. I also believe that there’s a lot more to pursue on the above, if not purely to get that missing apology (and accountability) that they very much owe the drivers, sponsors and families.

I would also like to go on record as saying that there was no evidence/data that was looked at by us that pointed at VW’s second car having increased performance until the Zwartkops round and the fuel test, and whilst not based in any fact that I have seen, I would personally like to believe that the driver of the second car was more than likely blissfully unaware of what was happening on that day at Zwartkops and was his first time experiencing this bonus additive. ( I have heard an unconfirmed story of how it may have come about, which only they will know is true and as is not an absolute fact available first hand, it is not my place to write about it here). I also believe that he and his family equally (perhaps more so) deserves an apology from VW as well as the ‘actual’ truth and admission.

Fix this for everyone’s sake in all of these classes please…. peel away the sugar coating and find out what the taste really is underneath (as it sits). These guys have the ability to really do great things for the sport and have done to an extent, they are an amazing global brand with amazing products and we are lucky enough to have a Motorsport division here in SA (the only one). SupaCup for one should arguably be the very best (and biggest) series in the Country with proper race cars that are second to none and the perfect young driver or older ‘masters’ race car. They are priced well and good enough to be exported to Germany for a brand new series which again is testament to the product itself.

So the products are great, so what or who is causing all of the above and the continuing lack of honesty and accountability because it is certainly not suddenly fixed by the loss of a few points?...and why are people still being phoned by a VW employee whenever this subject crops up on any WhatsApp channel or social post, saying that talking about it will damage motorsport and it must be deleted? Who is telling people openly that ‘certain people’ (I guess that might be me??) are the ones damaging motorsport because they involved VW Germany in this? (Yes I did when all of SA was trying to bury this and noone would answer me, this complete abuse of power and control had to stop immediately as it is not allowed in any global Company - including South Africa, and in any of their endeavours whether motorsport or not)…. Who is still insisting to everyone that they got the wrong Astron pump (100 octane unleaded ???) when those that know the facts know that is preposterous? Who has still not apologised to any driver or parent on the grid? Who are actually the ones damaging motorsport here and will continue to do so if left unchecked, and where actually are the checkers in all this?

Use it, don’t use it, it’s your kids and your money, I just felt you should be armed with the actual facts and what happened, how and why. Also important to know that all we all wanted from the start was to race equally (when evidence on non-equality became evident), no advantage for anyone, no retrospective punishments… all the same cars and great racing, and for anyone thinking of chasing a cheap plastic pot unfairly to think twice for fear of punishment. This unfortunately did not stop them and took us all for fools and continue to do so. Very sad.

There are definitely some eggs that will need to be broken for us to have a great omelette.

Tim Bishop

AND SOME RELATED DOCS……