With burnt rubber and thick smoke hanging in the air, parts of Katherine Street in Sandton were turned into a mini F1 race track as car racers, spinners took turns on the tarmac as part of the Red Bull Showrun event on Sunday.
Legendary Former F1 driver David Coulthard was the event’s key draw card as he enthralled fans with his iconic car racing skills.
More than 2 000 car racing enthusiasts turned out for the adrenaline pumping spectacle as a sea of roaring engines, high-flying stunts, and a crowd that’s buzzing with excitement captivated the streets of South Africa’s financial hub.
Rachel Mazibuko, a female car spinning lover, told The Star she could not miss the breathtaking event as it was one of her favourite sports.
“I just love car racing and for me, this is more than just a passion. I was thrilled to see David Coulthard, who was one of my favourite F1 drivers, and just being here and hearing the sound of roaring cars and revved-up engines just pleases me,” she said.
Joburg mayor Dada Morero and Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie also made a stop at the event.
The fusion of speed and showmanship was all there for everyone to see as Aras Gibieza, Samkeliso “Sam Sam” Thubane, and Elias Hountondji made their run on the tarmac.
Comedian Thabiso Mhlongo told The Star that car spinning and racing, like comedy, could be used to tackle the country’s high unemployment rate, especially among young people.
“We used to watch our uncles spin cars and they used to be called criminals but now have gone from that to seeing our current minister, Gayton McKenzie saying he wants to make car spinning a national sport. Things have changed and we could be employing more young people to be race car drivers, mechanics and comedians if we really took our sports, arts, and culture more seriously. These are some of the jobs of the future,” he said.
McKenzie remarked: “From the underground streets to the richest streets in Africa, we don’t just talk, we do. Thanks, Red Bull South Africa for being the first to massively invest in spinning.”
Commenting on the potential of such events in job creation, Morero said: “Such events create job opportunities because people spend money to book hotels which are always full. We want such events to remain in Gauteng and we will ensure necessary investments in order to achieve our objectives.”
The Star