No engines. No batteries. No petrol. And, according to the official rules, definitely no catapults.

On Sunday, 4 October 2026, the Red Bull Box Cart Race returns to Sandton Drive, eight years after its last Johannesburg outing. 

Teams build their own non-motorised carts, perform a skit at the start and then send their creations downhill. From there, gravity takes over.

Competitors are judged on speed, creativity and showmanship, so the quickest cart is not necessarily the winner - the performance before the wheels start turning counts, too.

Sandton Drive has seen this before

Around 25,000 spectators turned out for the 2018 race to watch homemade machines tackle a 500-metre course. This October, the event returns to the same street.

For spectators, the appeal is simple: seeing whether an imaginative design can survive the downhill trip.

There are rules to the madness.

Teams can have up to five members. Drivers must be at least 18, while ground crew members must be at least 16.

Carts need working brakes and steering and must weigh no more than 80kg, excluding the driver. Drivers must wear helmets, and engines and stored power are prohibited. Creativity has plenty of room; extra horsepower does not. 

Before you go

• Date: Sunday, 4 October 2026
• Time: First cart scheduled for 11:00
• Venue: Sandton Drive, Sandton, Johannesburg
• Entry: Free for spectators
• Planning your visit: Check the official Red Bull event page for the final schedule, road closures, parking and access updates before travelling.

The Bottom Line

You do not need to build a cart to enjoy this one. Pick a favourite, watch the start-line performance and see whether the engineering lives up to the imagination. Eight years later, gravity gets another go.