The Vilaca Racing Time Attack Series capped off its electrifying sixth season this past weekend in a spectacle of South African motorsport.
The series runs over six events at different race tracks throughout the year and each event consists of six to eight sessions where you try and achieve the quickest lap time. The three fastest drivers of the day per class go into a shoot-out. During this shoot-out, each driver has two laps to set the best time, which ultimately, determines the driver’s winning position.
Among the standout performances of the season, Johan Nel secured the 2025 Modified Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) Championship, cementing his status as one of the most formidable competitors in the series. Nel’s season was anything but straightforward. Reflecting on the demanding journey with his Hyundai I30N, he revealed how unexpected challenges nearly halted his campaign.
What makes the Vilaca time attack series unique is the shoot-out format. “We had a challenging start to the season with some teething issues with the development of the I30N package, as such, were not able to compete in the shoot-out in the first three events,” stated Nel.
The I30N is an extremely good base to start with and after dialling in all the modifications, they had a very competitive car for the last three events. “We managed to win all three events and narrowly win the championship by 2 points. I would like to thank our main sponsor, Castrol, for their contribution to our success,” stated an ecstatic Nel.
What makes his victory even more notable is that outside the cockpit, in June this year, he was appointed Sales Director at Hyundai Automotive South Africa, adding corporate leadership to an already impressive motorsport resumé. “Racing in a car belonging to a company that I so dearly love, is even more fulfilling. I could not have asked for more.”
Stanley Anderson, CEO of Hyundai Automotive South Africa congratulated Nel on behalf of the company. “We are immensely proud of Johan’s remarkable achievement in winning the 2025 Modified FWD Championship.
