PHILIPSTOWN, NORTHERN CAPE – From the dusty streets of a small Karoo town to the global spotlight: the Philipstown Draadkar Grand Prix is taking centre stage after being extended into a mobile game, documentary and e-commerce platform.
This unique draadkar (wire car) Grand Prix was presented on 13 September this year for its 16th annual edition. It is a community-based event in which the quiet streets echo with the sounds of cheering crowds, whirring wheels and determined footsteps of young champions.
It began as a community initiative to create a positive event in a town facing economic and social hardship. The event is a day of celebration, competition and skill-building for local youth when they race through the streets with their wire cars built from salvaged wire, tin cans, bottle caps and other scrap materials, showing off their craftsmanship.
These wire car designs are often complex, with steering and suspension, built from memory after seeing real cars. Girls and boys alike take part, and any child under 18 can participate for free.
The Philipstown WireCar Foundation was recently established to manage the growing attention and promote the event, and to channel the global spotlight into lasting impact through three connected initiatives.
These initiatives can be summarised as watch, play, and buy and donate. They invite the world to be part of the story and positively impact the future of the Philipstown community.
Film is gateway into heart of town
The cornerstone is the feature documentary, The Philipstown WireCar Grand Prix, produced by Giant Films and Accenture Song, and directed by Paul Ward (WARD). The film on Prime Video is a gateway into the heart of Philipstown, celebrating the community’s spirit without shying away from its struggles.
It follows a group of young racers who, armed with scrap wire, bottle caps and boundless imagination, build intricate wire cars to compete in the town’s annual race that takes place every September.
Alistair King, vice-chair of the foundation, describes the film as the perfect vehicle to inspire action.
“When we first visited, the kids just blew my mind. They have this incredible joy and passion for racing and imaginations that are simply boundless. We realised that this brilliant idea, this race, deserved to be owned by them and taken to the next level. The documentary captures that magic.”
King adds that the wire itself became a central metaphor. “A piece of discarded wire is rusting and of little use. But if you pick it up and work with it, it can be made into something beautiful. That became a symbol for the community, for the kids, and for what this foundation aims to do.”
Watch: Stream The Philipstown WireCar Grand Prix on Prime Video, immerse yourself in the story and share it with friends and family.
Game free to play, open for global audience
The foundation also launched the WGP Mobile Game on the iOS App Store and Google Play. This game immerses players in a digital twin of Philipstown, allowing them to experience the thrill of racing a wire car through meticulously recreated streets and landmarks.
The game is free to play and accessible to a global audience. Players can compete against the town’s local champions, upgrade their virtual wire cars and unlock new tracks.
The core of its mission, however, lies in its optional in-app purchases. Every cent spent on unique car customisations, performance boosts or other digital items goes directly to the Philipstown WireCar Foundation’s programmes.
Play: Download the WGP Mobile Game from the iOS App Store or Google Play.
- Watch the game trailer here or here:
Own a piece of African artistry
The third pillar of the initiative is owning a piece of this African artistry. The official e-commerce store has launched, offering authentic, handcrafted wire cars made by artisans in Philipstown, alongside exclusive merchandise and other local art.
Each wire car is a one-of-a-kind creation, a complex machine featuring a chassis, steering mechanism and custom designs born from memory and passion. Purchasing one of these creations celebrates and preserves a tradition passed down through generations whilst providing a vital source of income and pride.
Buy and donate: Visit the e-store to purchase an authentic, handcrafted wire car, as well as other Philipstown merchandise, or make a direct donation to the Philipstown WireCar Foundation.
Funds raised towards critical upliftment
Contributing to these initiatives serves a single, unified purpose – to fund the vital work of the Philipstown WireCar Foundation. The foundation has already purchased a modest building in town, which it is in the process of renovating into a community hub and state-of-the-art e-learning centre.
The funds raised will go towards critical upliftment programmes.
PHOTOS: Supplied
“My dream is for this foundation to become a centre of excellence,” says Kay Fourie, chairperson of the Philipstown WireCar Foundation and co-founder of the original race. She says the real work starts now, by channelling this incredible wave of support into lasting change.
“We want to offer everything from computer skills and robotics training to driver’s licence programmes and essential social support. We want to build a future where the next generation has real upliftment and employment opportunities they never would have had otherwise.”
Every documentary view, every download of the WGP Mobile Game and every purchase from the new e-commerce store directly fuels the foundation’s mission to provide tangible opportunities for the next generation.
As Fourie says: “The film was always just the beginning. We’re inviting the world to be more than spectators and to be partners in our journey.”
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