A small Karoo town. Eight determined teenagers. One extraordinary race.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!One of South Africa’s most inspiring and unique sporting stories is heading to local television screens nationwide when The Philipstown WireCar Grand Prix premieres as a three-part documentary series on kykNET (DStv channel 144) and SuperSport Extra (DStv channel 210) from Sunday 8 November at 20:30.
Following its official selection at the Tribeca X festival and a recent 2026 International Emmy Award nomination in the Sports Documentary category, the acclaimed documentary has now been specially adapted into a three-part mini-series exclusively for DStv audiences.
For the past 16 years, the remote Northern Cape town of Philipstown has hosted a remarkable annual event that has become the heartbeat of the community: the Draadkar Grand Prix. The exhilarating 3.2 km race sees competitors hurtling through the town’s rugged, dusty streets in handcrafted wire cars, competing for local glory in what is believed to be the only race of its kind in the world.
While the event has long been a source of immense pride for the people of Philipstown, its story has largely remained hidden from the rest of the world. That changed in 2025 when The Philipstown WireCar Grand Prix documentary debuted to international acclaim, capturing the imagination of audiences with its powerful blend of sport, innovation and human resilience.
At the heart of the series are eight determined teenage contenders as they prepare themselves, and their handmade wire cars, for the most important race of the year. Over months of preparation, viewers follow their personal journeys of ambition, friendship, creativity and perseverance as they dream of crossing the finish line first.
But this is far more than a sporting story.
Set against the stark beauty of the Karoo, the series explores a community that has transformed a simple childhood pastime into a celebrated annual tradition. It is a story of ingenuity, hope and possibility, where discarded materials become racing machines and where young people discover confidence, purpose and belonging.
“We have been desperate to bring the Philipstown story to a broader South African audience. It is a stunningly original African story and a deeply inspiring one at that. I think viewers should have some tissues on hand and be prepared to go through the full gamut of emotions,” says Alistair King, Vice Chair of the Philipstown WireCar Foundation.
Directed by Ward of Giant Films, the production combines intimate documentary storytelling with spectacular visual ambition. The series features cutting-edge CGI from Oscar-winning Hamburg-based visual effects studio Accenture Song Studios (Mackevision), alongside South African VFX specialists Chocolate Tribe. Audiences will also hear the voice of internationally renowned Formula One commentator Alex Jaques, while South African rugby icon Siya Kolisi makes a cameo appearance in Philipstown itself.
With breathtaking cinematography, exhilarating race sequences and a deeply moving human story, the adaptation elevates the original documentary into an immersive television experience. The emotional journey is further enhanced by an original soundtrack created by Pressure Cooker in collaboration with Muneyi, with sound design by The Workroom.
The result is a series that celebrates not only a thrilling competition, but also the resilience of a community and the extraordinary potential of its youth.
The global attention created by the project has led to the creation of the Philipstown WireCar Foundation that now champions wire car culture and drives numerous early childhood development programmes in the community.
The Philipstown WireCar Grand Prix is proudly brought to viewers by Shell.
The Philipstown WireCar Grand Prix will start Sunday 8 November at 20:30 on kykNET (DStv channel 144) and SuperSport Extra (DStv channel 210) until Sunday 22 November. The series will also air on kykNET&kie (DStv channel 145) from Friday 13 November at 21:00 until 27 November, with an omnibus broadcast on Sunday 29 November at 20:00 on kykNET&kie.
Watch the trailer: https://youtu.be/Q0OPytRNqhw
