News / University of Bristol
Bristol students prepare for Red Bull Soapbox Race
A team of four students from the University of Bristol are competing in the Red Bull Soapbox Race in London on Saturday.
The vehicles featured in the soapbox race rely solely on gravity and don’t include any motorised elements.
They usually feature vibrant themes, with the soapboxes ranked on their creativity and speed.
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Molly Lawton, Andrei Roberts, Chloe Webb-Jenkins and driver Josh Simon collectively form The Subway Surfers.
A mix of engineering and arts students, the team have combined their shared perspectives to put forward their soapbox bid.
The team received the Red Bull Young Constructor’s Grant, supporting them to compete in the upcoming race.
The Young Constructor’s Grant was introduced by Red Bull to sponsor teams aged 18 to 25 years of age.
The main body of the soapbox was spray painted by the team – photo: Molly Lawton
The team was inspired by the well-known mobile game, Subway Surfer.
The graffiti tag on the side of their soapbox mirrors that of the in-game train carriage, with the Bristol students also using their soapbox to pay homage to our city’s street art scene.
Red Bull provided the team space and construction materials for The Subway Surfers team to work on their soapbox.
The vehicle needs to withstand the intense Red Bull course.
Soapbox racecourses have historically included gravity-defining inclines, extreme bends, and multiple steep ramps.
Team member Lawton told Bristol24/7: “I’m very, very excited. I’m crossing my fingers for Josh’s survival.”
A sneak peak of the finished soapbox – photo by Molly Lawton.
All teams will be judged across three main criteria: speed of the race, showmanship of the pre-race performance and concept for the soapbox design.
The soapbox race will take place on Saturday, starting from 2pm at Alexandra Palace in London and will be televised on Red Bull TV at 6pm.
Main photo: Molly Lawton
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