Words can’t fully capture the excitement we felt when ESA received the invitation to attend the Red Bull Showrun 2024. It felt like a dream come true—our anticipation was as high as if we were headed to the USA for the first time. To make the experience even more thrilling, we invited Aluve Mjali, the popular face from TV and Urban Lifestyle (www.urbanlifestylesa.co.za). You may know him from Mzansi Magic‘s hit series Code 13 or his current role in How to Manifest a Man Season 2, airing every Monday at 20:00.
“Thank you for bringing me to this event—it was an incredible experience.”
Aluve’s reaction after the event said it all:
The Red Bull Showrun offered more than just motorsport; it was a celebration of speed, stunts, and adrenaline.
The highlight of the event was seeing Formula 1 in action on the streets of Sandton. The roar of the Oracle Red Bull Racing RB7, driven by British legend David Coulthard, echoed through the city as it performed high-speed runs, burnouts, and doughnuts. Coulthard, a former Red Bull Racing driver and 13-time Grand Prix winner, took the wheel of the 2011 championship-winning car, leaving the crowd in awe.
But it wasn’t just Coulthard’s performance that made the event special. Red Bull’s first-ever spinning athlete, Samkeliso “Sam Sam” Thubane, took center stage with his jaw-dropping spinning skills. His performance, along with the incredible stunts from German drift master Elias Hountondji and Lithuanian motorbike stunt rider Arūnas Gibieža, kept the energy high throughout the day.
The event drew an impressive crowd of 25,000 motorsport fans, eager for the excitement that only Red Bull can deliver. With celebrity sightings like Jessica Mountang, Brandon Valjalo, and BMX star Murray Loubser, along with the charismatic MCs Mpho Popps and David Goliath, the atmosphere was electric from start to finish.
One moment that stood out for ESA was when the RB7 seemed to “sing” the South African national anthem with the powerful sound of its engine. It was an unforgettable experience, and it was clear from the audience’s reaction that there is a massive appetite for motorsport in South Africa. The question now is: will South Africa see Formula 1 return for the 2026 season? With the 2025 calendar already announced without a South African stop, many are looking to figures like Gayton McKenzie to bring the F1 spectacle to our shores.
While the future of F1 in South Africa remains uncertain, one thing is for sure—the Red Bull Showrun was a taste of what motorsport fans here deserve. The streets of Sandton were alive with the spirit of racing, and events like this prove that South Africans are ready for Formula 1.
In conclusion, the Red Bull Showrun 2024 brought an unforgettable motorsport experience to Johannesburg. It wasn’t just about cars and stunts; it was a day filled with excitement, community spirit, and a shared passion for speed. We left the event on a high, and we can’t wait to see what Red Bull has in store next.