A Dream Journey to being Champion
Nathan Macdonald’s journey to claiming the 2025 National SSA Modified Sedan Championship is a story of resilience, precision, and unshakable determination. It wasn’t just a race weekend: it was the culmination of years of hard work, heartbreak, and the relentless pursuit of a dream.
Macdonald’s lead-up to the title was measured and confident, built off the back of recent success. “Really good,” he says of his preparation. “I didn’t prep for the title any different to any other race I do. I had a NSW Title win, won $5000 at Gladstone, then second at Toowoomba prior to heading to Mildura, so I was confident of where I was with my car and had no damage leading up to the title.”
Arriving at Mildura, Nathan already had a strong record at the fast, high-banked venue. “I love Mildura, it’s such a fast-flowing track. Every time I’ve raced there, I’ve landed on the podium, but this was my first win there.”
His weekend got off to a dream start. “Practice went well and I posted an overall time within the top 10, so I felt we were in a good window,” he recalls. “After winning all three heats on night one and being tied as highest point scorer with my brother, that was pretty special. It’s an amazing feat to do that anywhere let alone at a national title. But for both of us to do it was pretty cool.”
Despite the early dominance, Nathan stayed grounded. “There were still plenty of quick cars I hadn’t raced in the heats. I definitely didn’t want to get overconfident.”
The final night nearly took a turn for the worse. “Just after the grand parade, about an hour before my fourth and final heat race, one of my crew found an issue with our transporter which needed fixing before we could head home. We also had a concern with the engine in the transporter too.”
The off-track drama was a mental test. “All this rattled me a bit. I just wanted to focus on my racing, so I walked away flustered at the time. I’ve got to thank my dad and Tony Ball who helped sort the issues so I could get my head back in the game.”
Despite the distractions, Nathan delivered a strong result in his final heat, finishing second by just 0.038 seconds.
Then came the main event, a final Nathan won’t forget anytime soon. “I battled my brother Shane for the first 20 laps and kept applying pressure. That eventually forced an error I could capitalise on,” he explains.
Once in the lead, it was all about staying composed. “I didn’t care how many laps were left. I just wanted to focus on doing consistent, clean laps. The digital lap board at Mildura stares you right in the face down the front straight, so you really have to make an effort not to look at it.”
But just as victory looked certain, chaos threatened once again. “On the final lap, I came out of turn four with the checkered flag being held out and then the caution lights came on for a car stopped on the back straight. I couldn’t believe it.”
Nathan had already lost two national titles to late-race restarts before. He wasn’t going to let a third slip away. “I knew I had to stay calm and just put in two good laps. And I was able to do that.”
As he finally crossed the line and the title was his, the emotions were overwhelming. “It was such an amazing feeling. Seeing the big crowd there to witness it made it even more special. My only regret, as always, is not doing a big enough burnout! Hopefully I get a few more chances to make up for it,” he laughs.
Becoming Australian Champion was more than a win, it was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. “I always dreamt of achieving this,” Nathan says. “But the competition is so stiff these days, there’s never such a thing as an easy win.”
“To win it with outright speed was so satisfying. I’ve never had so many people reach out to congratulate me: friends, family, fans, past champions, and even people I’ve never met. It really showed me what this win meant, not just to me, but to so many others.”
Nathan also cherishes his place among Toowoomba’s racing legends. “I’m proud to have my name in the history books alongside past champions from my home track like Len Kennedy, Arthur Wiedon, Harry Brazier, and Peter Lack. I listened to a podcast of Brooke Tatnell recently: it took him seventeen years to win his first Australian Title. It took me fourteen in Modified Sedans. Hearing what it meant to him really resonated with me.”
With the A1 now proudly displayed, Nathan is already planning his next steps. “I’m very fortunate that I get a full twelve months of being National Champion. To defend the title at my home track in Toowoomba in 2026 will be pretty special.”
He’s committed to a busy season ahead. “I’ll attend as many blue ribbon events as I can. I’ll defend my NSW Title in Leeton, compete in the QLD Title in Gympie, and see what else fits into the schedule.”
There’s still more to accomplish. “I’ve still got a lot left to give,” Nathan says. “I want to keep pushing and see how far we can take this.”
Nathan’s success isn’t a solo effort. “My wife Cyrisse and kids Chloe and Lucas, they always support me. My mum and dad, Uncle Peter and Lex, they’ve been there for me at most meetings.”
And to those who’ve backed him behind the scenes, he’s equally grateful. “To anyone who’s ever cheered, supported, or helped in some way—I truly appreciate it.”
Nathan Macdonald’s rise to National Champion is more than a trophy, it’s a testament to persistence, passion, and pride in the sport. With the A1 on his door and his heart still firmly in the game, one thing is certain: we haven’t seen the last of this champion.
