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What does a former driver and racing dad do when the kids have flown the coop? Well, in John Kruger’s case, it’s back to serious racing. Johannesburg-based former Capetonian Kruger was a familiar figure at Killarney back in the ‘80s, where he also drove for Toyota in the Class E Group N Brat Pack.

Like many racers, the apples did not fall far from the tree and John was soon consumed in running daughter Robyn and later son Jeff’s highly successful karting and then race careers. Time flies, as they say, and before John knew it, the kids had moved abroad. And beyond still racing his Lotus 7 in Challenge, the old man was left twiddling his thumbs.

Then Volkswagen confirmed a new over-50s Masters Class in Polo Cup from 2024 and John wasted no time to acquire a leading Cup race car. He has already been preparing for the season ahead in Habot Performance Lubricants colours. No stranger to Polo Cup, John engineered son Jeff to two championships over two Cup eras, so his only challenge has been to switch his attention back to driving.

“I’m excited to be back behind the wheel and racing in a national championship again in Polo Cup,” Jeff explained. “It’s not that I have nothing to do at the Extreme festival races, because I’m also preparing and running a couple of other race cars, but the chance has arisen to race at top level in Masters, so I thought what the hell, let’s just do it! 

“We have been out testing, and I’m happy with my pace. It’s not quite where the front running youngsters were last year, but we should be competitive in Masters, so I can’t wait for the season to begin in Cape Town in a month from now. Huge thanks to Habot Performance Lubricants and to everyone else who have helped make this happen!”

“Habot Performance Lubricants is delighted to continue our involvement in a leading Polo Cup team,” Habot marketing man Adam Williamson confirmed. “We have enjoyed race winning campaigns with Jeff Kruger, Jurie Swart and Giordano Lupini in recent seasons and we look forward to continuing to prove our winning lubricants’ prowess on track with John Kruger in Polo Cup Masters in 2024.”