'Thrilling and unique' - Nel's take on racing in Angola
Namibia’s Adriaan Nel recently took part in a motor race in Angola, held as part of the neighbouring country’s 50th independence anniversary celebrations.“It was part of their national championships, and they invited me as a special guest,” he said.
Reflecting on his time in Angola, Nel described the racing scene as both thrilling and unique. “It’s like they’re completely different. The racers are a bit wilder and more extreme, but they’re fantastic people who feel like family now. They treated me so well and really spoiled me while I was there.”
Back home, Nel is competing in the MSA Investchem Formula 4 series. With two rounds completed – one of which he was unable to take part in – he currently sits in seventh place in the championship standings.
However, he admits the financial demands of competing at this level remain a challenge. “One race weekend can cost around N$80 000, so we’re still working hard on securing sponsors. We’re speaking to companies in both Namibia and South Africa, and the car is still available for a big sponsor to come on board,” he said.
So far, Nel has received support from several Namibian businesses, including Central Cycles, Namibia Sign Factory and Bauers Autowerkstatt.
The Formula 4 season continues on 13 September at the iconic Killarney Raceway in Cape Town. The final two rounds will follow in October at the Red Star Raceway in Johannesburg and the Zwartkops Raceway in Pretoria.
Nel is no stranger to international competition. Last year he represented Namibia at the FIA Motorsport Games in Spain in the e-racing category. Inspired by that experience, he hopes to give young Namibians more opportunities to engage with motorsport by introducing race car simulators in schools, allowing learners to form their own e-racing teams.
Already boasting three local racing car championships and two race car simulator titles, Nel is determined to keep pushing his career forward, and to bring the next generation of Namibian racers along with him. – [email protected]