PIETERMARITZBURG, South Africa – Flash Sponsorship is delighted to have closed the deal between Netstar and the world’s oldest and largest ultramarathon, the Comrades Marathon. Netstar come onboard as the Official Real-Time Traffic Monitoring and Insights Sponsor of the 2026 race.
“Connecting Netstar with the Comrades Marathon is exactly the kind of sponsorship we love, where a brand’s core expertise creates genuine value for an event and everyone it touches. Netstar is the perfect fit for our client the Comrades Marathon, and we are proud to have kept this deal on track.” says Gill Fraser, Sales Director at Flash Sponsorship.
South Africa’s leading vehicle tracking and telematics provider will deploy its real-time monitoring technology across the full 85.777km route, delivering live traffic updates to the public via the race’s official social media channels throughout race day – Comrades Facebook, X, Instagram.
“The combined contribution of the Netstar technology and the team of experts will ensure a much smoother race day experience, says Comrades Marathon General Manager, Alain Dalais. “In Netstar, we have found a sponsor that shares our commitment to making the experience better for every single person involved in the race, and we are proud to welcome them to the Comrades family in 2026.”
“Netstar was built on an understanding of South African roads, honed over three decades, and this is something that very few organisations can match,” says Warren Mande, Managing Director of Netstar. “The Comrades Marathon gives us the opportunity to put that expertise to work on one of this country’s most demanding road events, and to make a real difference to every person on that route, whether they’re running, watching, or simply trying to get home.”
The 2026 Comrades Marathon will be the 99th edition and the 50th Up Run, starting at the Durban City Hall and finishing at the Hollywoodbets Scottsville Racecourse in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday, 14 June 2026.
