Red Bull Soapbox Race is a race for amateur drivers, which is fuelled by creativity and competitive fun - not to mention the need for speed!

Everyone participating in the event must gather a team of FOUR people (including themselves,) build a car and drive it! The construction can be of any shape and material provided that it complies with the specifications and regulations (see below).

Teams compete on speed, creativity and showmanship.

The first Red Bull Soapbox Race was held in Brussels in 2000. Since then, Red Bull has created more than 40 Soapbox Races around the world; from Australia to South Africa, Helsinki to St. Louis and Jamaica to Italy.

No, Red Bull Soapbox Race has been held twice before in the UK…but not since 2004.

Red Bull Soapbox Race is taking place in London on Sunday 14th July. To take part in the event you must be free to arrive in the morning on Saturday 13th July. Applications must be submitted by 31st March.

Red Bull Soapbox Race is taking place at Alexandra Palace in London

How imaginative can your team be? Red Bull Soapbox Race vehicles range from realistic replicas to anything your imagination can conjure up. Past cars have included a Dim Sum trolley, a clown, a massive corn on the cob, a Big Ben and something that looks like a decorated truck. To gain more showmanship points, participants often wear outrageous costumes, act out skits, and create their own music soundtracks for the race.

There are still some things in this world that come for free! Red Bull Soapbox Race is one of those things!

Tickets will be available on the website in May, please check back then

No, sadly not. Only the soapbox teams that get selected from the application stage can race their cars down the hill at the event.

You can apply to take part by applying through the website www.redbullsoapboxrace.co.uk

You can send your soapbox application to Red Bull UK Race Control on or before 31st March 2013. Applications can either be completed online, emailed to us or sent in the post to:

Red Bull Soapbox Race Control
155 – 171 Tooley Street
London
SE1 2JP

Red Bull Soapbox Race is a single day of thrills, so the number of contestants will be limited.

Teams are chosen based on information they provide in their Red Bull Soapbox Race Application.

Red Bull Race Control reviews each application and picks approximately 70 teams based on creativity, technical feasibility of the soapbox build, safety and originality and adherence to the regulation guidelines. But remember, this is as much about who you are as it is about what you can build!

Approximately 70 teams are selected to compete.

To enter Red Bull Soapbox you need to be aged 18 and over as of 31st March 2013

1. Speed - Not to state the obvious, but this event is, first and foremost, a race. Therefore, the fastest one across the finish line is definitely going to be looked upon favourably.

2. Creativity - It’s not enough that it actually moves. What we’re looking for is the outrageous, the preposterous and the ostentatious! Your soapbox should be an extension of you, so have fun when you design it. Be wild. Be crazy. Be anything you want. Just do not be ordinary.

3. Showmanship - We said that the first one to cross the finish line will be looked upon favourably, we didn’t say they’d win. That’s because when it comes to Red Bull Soapbox, speed is nothing without a little personality. So, wow us with your 30 second stage performance, impress us with your charisma and of course, dazzle us with your showmanship.

All the teams that submit a Soapbox application to Red Bull UK Race Control will receive notification that their application has been received. You will then be notified if you have or haven’t been selected to take part in the event by 19th April 2013.

Selected teams can start building as soon as they have found out their team have made it through the application process. Teams must arrive on the event site on Saturday 13th July; exact arrival times will be allocated to each team and communicated nearer the time. Teams must have their cars ready by the event day (Sunday 14th July 9am). Red Bull will provide an area for teams to place the car beforehand. Expenditure on the construction and transportation of vehicles and any material used to build it are the responsibility of the team.

You can use any material to build your car. The only things that you are strictly prohibited from using in your car are mechanical parts and motors to make it move.

Remember that your car needs to move only with the strength of a push and the gravity of the thill. Driver and pit crew must all be 18 years of age or older. They’ll give you the push you need to get you off the starting ramp. No engines, gas, batteries, electrical cords, catapults, afterburners and the like are allowed. Nothing can be mounted, screwed into or glued to the pavement in any way, shape or form. All racing machines should carry completely functional brakes and steering. No braking with hands and feet will be accepted. Brakes should function independently of the steering and should be connected to and operate on at least two wheels.

Teams will be judged on three criteria: speed, creativity and showmanship. All soapboxes must be human powered, meaning no engines or external energy sources are allowed. Pre-fabricated cars are not accepted. All vehicles must be less than 2m wide and 2.5m tall, less than 5m in length. All cars must weigh no more than 80kg (not including the driver). Drivers must be at least 18 years old. To prevent you from getting stuck on the starting ramp, the soapboxes should sit a minimum of 10cm from the ground. All racing machines should carry completely functional brakes and steering. No braking with hands and feet will be accepted. Brakes should function independently of the steering and should be connected to and operate on at least two wheels.

Third party commercial logos and sponsors are not permitted on your Soapbox. If you’re designing a car where the presence of a brand is incidental as an integral part of the design this may be allowed for example if your car was a giant sports shoe it maybe that the sports shoe is identifiable by the design to be a specific brand.

Yes you can enter your team on behalf of a charity but please beware that the same rules regarding company and sponsors logos apply. Third party commercial logos and sponsors are not permitted on your Soapbox. If you’re designing a car where the presence of a brand is incidental as an integral part of the design this may be allowed for example if your car was a giant sports shoe it maybe that the sports shoe is identifiable by the design to be a specific brand.

The team should consist of FOUR people including the driver. A co-driver is optional. All soapboxes must use only the force of human power, the use of electrical resources, batteries, pulley systems and electronics is not allowed. Event participants must wear helmets provided by Red Bull.

All entrants are required to wear a helmet provided by Red Bull.

For safety reasons, all entrants are required to follow the compulsory dress code: full-length trousers, a long-sleeved top and gloves. Costumes suiting your team theme are strongly advised.

The prizes are as follows:

First Prize: The winning Red Bull Soapbox Race team will be treated to a tour of the Red Bull Racing Factory. In addition the whole team will get the chance to show of their racing prowess at a high performance track day.

Second Prize: The second place team will get to demonstrate their racing skills at a day of action packed fun at a high performance track.

Third Prize: The third place team will get a session at a go-kart track located close to them. The winning team will be able to share this awesome experience with some guests (10 total).

You can contact the team by either phone, email or post:

Email: soapbox@uk.redbull.com
Hotline: 0203 117 2092
Post: 155 – 171 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2JP