Neil Botes (29) is SA’s Hotrod champ

SECUNDA – Neil Botes (29) clinched the Hot Rod championship title of the South African Pro-Am series on the first weekend in December.

The final weekend race in this oval track action was held at the Ultimate Outlaws Raceway in Vereeniging.

Botes’ racing was consistently fast and calculated throughout the series of six weekends of racing.

This championship title earned him an invitation to Spedeworth Fabrication’s 2.0 Hot Rod World Final in England on 6 and 7 July where he will be competing against the world’s best.

Botes and his twin brother, Vincent, matriculated from HTS Middelburg where the subject motor shop is part of the curriculum. Both are qualified motor mechanics and work for their father, Mr. Johann Botes, at De Graaff and High-tech Auto multi workshop Secunda.

When Vincent took up oval racing about five years ago, Neil was very intrigued.

He bought his first racing car three years ago and joined his brother on the race track.

“It was tough to take on experienced drivers, and because the competition field is so big, no one is willing to share their knowledge. We had to figure it out ourselves. I truly felt like the underdog,” explained Botes.

The Botes men (dad and sons) decided to go at it alone. Neil is the technical and analytical one and Vincent is focused on the mechanical side of things.

“It is a huge advantage to know exactly what work is being done on the race car and exactly how everything works in a car.

Neil drives a Mercedes Benz SLK with a Mazda rotary engine, while Vincent opted for an Opel Tigra with a Mazda rotary engine.

According to Neil, one must be fit, calm and focused when competing in a hot rod race.

“There are numerous vehicles on the track at once and you have to navigate your way through and look for gaps to overtake without bumping another vehicle or going off the track. At the same time you have to contain your temper. Road rage definitely does not belong on the race track.”

Neil is thankful for his father who taught him throughout the years to always remain calm.

“That is his best character trait. The best thing out of the racing is that it also brings my father, brother and I, closer.”

Neil is married to Chanel and they have a son named Caelum.

One race is about 75 laps that last an average of 14 seconds per lap which is driven all the way in second gear at about 11 000 revs. Neil easily reaches top speeds of 165km/h.

Motorsport is a given to be expensive, so to give everyone a fair chance – from the multimillionaire to the local racer with limited resources – the racers are only allowed R45 000 for tyres throughout all races per car for the year. It may sound like a lot, but racing tyres are very expensive.

“Racing is also physically exhausting. The suits are hot and the spending such a long time in one position, also works your stomach muscles,” Neil said.

He is very excited about the Spedeworth Fabrication’s 2.0 Hot Rod World Final in England.

“Travelling anywhere with our own vehicles is a logistical issue, but I was told that Spedeworth will supply me with a race car.”