We left you with a challenge before race day: pick a favourite and see whether the engineering lived up to the imagination.

On Sunday, 4 October 2026, 57 teams put that question to the test at the Red Bull Box Cart Race on Sandton Drive. Homemade designs included a Ghostbusters-inspired cart and Mr D’s Delivery DareDevils, with jumps and sharp turns standing between the starting ramp and the finish. 

A little “Nkalakatha” before the downhill dash

Johannesburg’s Livingroom Referees claimed the title after bringing Mandoza’s “Nkalakatha” to life at the start line.

Their cart sat low to the ground, with an open frame and chunky tyres. The team credited careful construction, teamwork and family support, paying particular attention to the welding, steel and wheels.

As promised in our preview, speed was only part of the contest. Judges also scored creativity and showmanship, so the performance before the descent counted too. 

And the banana? Second place.

The Gru Crew’s banana-inspired cart finished runner-up, followed by The Rapid Response Unit in third.

Red Bull reports that 22,000 spectators attended the event, its first Johannesburg edition since 2018. 

Missed it? Have a peek

Would you trust your friends to build the cart, or would you have them drive it? Take a look at what this year’s teams came up with before you decide.

• Explore Red Bull’s race roundup and photographs.

Would you go next time?

Cheering from the sidelines or putting together a team? As of 5 October, no date for the next Johannesburg race could be confirmed. 

• Check Red Bull’s official event page for future announcements.

If you are considering entering, check the next edition’s entry requirements and construction rules before committing to a build.

The Bottom Line

The winners’ advice to future entrants: start early and work as a team. If Sunday has inspired a few ambitious ideas in your group chat, perhaps begin by finding out who can weld.