Bradford Super Soapbox Challenge Races Through City Centre Once Again

The Super Soapbox Challenge returned to Bradford this Sunday as teams battled it out to be 2024 champions. 

The event saw another two Bradford College entries, following the successful build of the winning kart in 2023 – built by students and driven by the Telegraph & Argus. 

This year’s race, which we were a sponsor of, welcomed popular celebrity Danny Malin (Rate My Takeaway) as special guest and saw ‘The Batmobile with Batman init’ triumph as winners. Our entries, ‘Back to the FE-uture’ and ‘The Might Atom’, finished 5^th and 4^th respectively. 

Head of Contruction & Engineering, Stephen Smith, said: “It’s been another brilliant day! We built the winning kart at last year’s event and both 2024 entries were right up there again. We’re so proud of our students and staff who have collaborated again to bring the kart ideas to life, the finished products both looked incredible!” 

“The Soapbox Challenge is such a positive day for the City but also provides our students with a crucial real-life industry experience for their ongoing learning and development. As well as contributing to our karts, some students have also been able to get stuck in with supporting the running of the event itself – they’ve loved it and done the College proud. We already can’t wait for next year!” 

The Bradford College Karts – Bradford Super Soapbox Challenge 2024: 

1. ‘Back to the FE-uture’ – Engineering Department in partnership with Don Whitley Scientific 
   

As in the film ‘Back to the Future’, the kart had a DeLorean feel with its brushed aluminum panels and scientific sponsor connection. It was designed and built over the last few months by L1 & L2 Fabrication & welding students and Daniel Foster (Tutor), being driven by Kelvin Tynan. 

2. ‘The Mighty Atom’ – Automotive Technologies Centre in partnership with the T&A
    

An improved version of last year’s winner, with a re-fabrication conducted by Level 2 students and Pete Hallam (Technician), driven by Pete himself. 

Soapbox itself is an event sponsored and facilitated by Bradford BID. It’s been a rousing success since it began and features as part of the BID team’s continued mission to ‘create a vibrant and thriving city centre that attracts increased footfall from both local people and visitors from elsewhere, so that all our businesses flourish and prosper’. 

The annual event in the heart of Bradford sees karts head off a starting ramp onto Kirkgate, wind round onto Bank Street before reaching the finish line on Tyrrel Street, passing thousands of spectators on the way. 

Speaking at a special launch event before the 2024 edition of the Soapbox Challenge, Jonny Noble (Bradford BID Chief Executive) said: “It’s a fantastic, feel good, family-friendly day, and one of my favourite events we host as a city. We’re delighted to have the support of other key Bradford organisations to help make this event happen, which provides a huge boost to our city centre retailers and food & drink venues.” 

Do you want to explore the course areas that give students the opportunity to bring our Soapbox karts to life? Explore all Engineering and Motor Vehicle courses available. 

You can also read a full rundown of results from the day here.