Thrills, spills: Red Bull Soapbox Race entertains thousands in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: With tickets sold out well in advance, thousands of spectators gathered to witness the adrenaline-fueled event, Red Bull Soapbox Race held at Ramanaidu Studios in Film Nagar on March 3.

Soapbox Race, Longstanding IP of Red Bull has been recognised globally including in the countries like Spain, Italy, UK, USA, France, and Germany among others. This year's event in Hyderabad did not disappoint, as teams from across the region showcased their ingenuity and passion in crafting gravity-powered soapbox vehicles, each more imaginative than the last.

The soapbox racing event buzzed with excitement as participants showcased a wide variety of vehicles, ranging from sleek and aerodynamic designs to whimsical and humorous creations. From 3,300 registrations across India from 23 different states, 28 carts drove down the slopes of Hyderabad, they faced some obstacles on their way down. Soapbox racing offered an adrenaline-pumping experience where participants competed downhill against the clock in vehicles they've custom-built. These vehicles rely solely on gravity for propulsion and typically include basic steering and braking mechanisms to navigate the course's twists, turns and obstacles. Each entry was meticulously crafted to not only impress visually but also to demonstrate the creativity and agility required to navigate the demanding course and obstacles.

Participants showcased some brilliant performances and creativity. However Kraken Wagen, a team from Hyderabad, the winners of Red Bull Soapbox Race 2024 took home the bragging rights and a fully paid Red Bull Racing F1 experience for their team. Kith and Kin 2.0 flew all the way from Mumbai bagged the second place in the race while Hyderabad’s favourite Biryani ki Sawaari got the third place.

Esteemed figures from the industry such as Rana Daggubatti graced the event, adding to the excitement as they admired the inventive teams' creations. Attendees were treated to a plethora of entertainment options, including live music, delectable food stalls, and interactive exhibits. Hosted by Aaditya Kulshreshth, known as Kullu Baazi, alongside Rohan Joshi, Sahiba Bali, and Jordindian, the event was filled with laughter and enjoyment throughout the day.

Those who missed the action on-ground, could watch the Red Bull Soapbox Race livestreamed on JioTV. Besides JioTV (streaming partner), other brand partners were Smart Bazaar (retail partner), Swiggy Instamart (instant delivery partner), Philips OneBlade (styling partner), Asian Cinemas (cinema partner) and BookMyShow (ticketing partner) who also had their carts go down the slopes of the venue.

The event was judged by former India Chess Player Tania Sachdev, Indian Hockey Player Manpreet Singh, Hockey Prodigy Lalremsiami, Dakar Rally 2 Champion Harith Noah, Wall of Indian football team Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and many more who were excited to see how the contestant’s fair.