Summarize

John Kruger scored a sensational comeback victory aboard his Habot Performance Lubricants Racing Astron Energy Polo Cup on his Killarney Masters Class debut over the past weekend. But Kruger’s success also only adds to a proud and impressive Habot racing record at the annual Polo Cup season opener.

Habot lubricated cars have now won in each of the six Polo Cup races at the March Killarney meeting since 2018. John’s son Jeff started the ball rolling with a double victory to open his championship winning campaign with Team Red that season. Then Jurie Swart won his first ever Polo Cup race in the opening race of the 2019 season, with all three victories coming off pole position. 

There was no race in lockdown 2020, but Alpine Autohaus lad Swart returned to score a dominant double in 2021, before his young Bullion IT Racing teammate Giordano Lupini put it on pole, and both drivers won in ’22. Lupini then scored a dominant double win in his Tork Craft Polo Cup in 2023. While all those wins also came off pole position, John Kruger had to work a little harder for that ultimate Masters double victory last Saturday.

“We qualified second, but the car was found to be underweight after qualifying and I was sent to the back of the grid,” John admitted. “So I really had to work hard, but I was up to third by the end of the second lap, and second a lap or so later. Then I had to push to catch Wayne Masters and steal the win on the last lap! That more than made up for our Friday disappointment! 

“The second heat was easier despite the race being re-started and I managed to make it a double. Habot Performance Lubricants has a proud record at this meeting over the years, so I’m delighted to have kept a good thing going! I have always prepared and run our own cars, so I’m quite aware of the advantages Habot Synthetic Lubricants bring, so special thanks to Habot for the support and to everyone helping make this happen.”

“Wow, what a way to start the season,” Habot Oils marketing manager Adam Williamson confirmed. “We will take this latest double victory and even better, six race wins out of six at Killarney’s Polo Cup season opener every year. Well done John, and also to Jeff, Jurie, and Giordano for setting this proud record!”