Forget engines and horsepower. The Red Bull Box Cart Race is returning to Johannesburg, where gravity will power the action on Sandton Drive on Sunday, October 4.
The eighth South African edition of the event will see teams race homemade, engine-free carts down a ramp from 11am.
Before each cart takes off, teams will perform a skit for the judges and crowd, with costumes and creative designs forming part of the spectacle.
Once the carts are released, they will tackle jumps and the downhill course, with some expected to make it to the finish while others could end in crashes and cartwheels.
The carts are judged on speed, creativity and showmanship, meaning the fastest entry is not necessarily guaranteed to win.
For the teams, the event is as much about creativity and entertainment as it is about racing.
Team Noma Yini said it entered because of the opportunity to have fun while showcasing creativity, representation and its story.
“We honestly signed up because it’s fun, but it’s also about creativity, representation and telling our story,” the team said.
First-time participants Kwik Kwik Nauw Nauw, powered by Takealot, are also aiming for the top spot with a design and performance inspired by delivery.
“This is our first Red Bull Box Cart Race, and we’re excited to bring Kwik Kwik Nauw Nauw, powered by Takealot, to the track,” the team said.
The event has previously been held in Cape Town, with the most recent editions taking place on the steep, cobbled streets of the Bo-Kaap. Those events attracted more than 22 000 spectators each.
The reigning champions are the Potjie Boytjies from Stellenbosch, who won with a potjie pot on wheels.
The Johannesburg event forms part of the 2026 global Red Bull Box Cart Race calendar, which also includes Belfast, London, Denver and Los Angeles.
Entry to the Johannesburg event is free, with spectators invited to watch the action from the hill along Sandton Drive.
IOL
