From Kasi hustle to UCT engineers: The teams bringing chaos to Red Bull Box Cart Race in Sandton

The Red Bull Box Cart Race is set to return to Johannesburg on Sunday, 4 October, and two South African teams, Noma Yini and Kwik Kwik Nawu Nawu, are preparing to participate.

Noma Yini is a team inspired by the hustle of township car guards, who constantly adapt and create with whatever resources they have available. The team's name reflects their spirit of creativity and resourcefulness, as they strive to build and improve something out of nothing. Despite previously participating in the race, Noma Yini is motivated by the fun and unique opportunity to represent their community in an unconventional setting.

They believe that it is important for Black South Africans to see themselves represented in spaces like these.

On the other hand, Kwik Kwik Nawu Nawu is a team of final-year Mechanical Engineering students from the University of Cape Town. Before they disperse after graduation, they decided to come together and build one last unnecessary, yet exciting, project. Their name, derived from the familiar South African expressions, "quick quick" and "now now," reflects their urgency and excitement for the race.

For Kwik Kwik Nawu Nawu, the race is their final delivery, and they are confident in their ability to perform well, aiming to make their mark on the event.

As both teams prepare for the race, they each bring their unique perspectives and motivations to the experience. Noma Yini aims to showcase the spirit of South African township life, while Kwik Kwik Nawu Nawu seeks to combine their engineering skills with memorable showmanship. Spectators can expect to see a diverse range of creativity and engineering in action as these teams navigate the challenging course, hoping to find success amidst the chaotic and unpredictable nature of the race.