Heineken World Tour revvs up the Mother City with rare Formula 1 fan experience.

Patrick Friesacher, driving the Red Bull Racing RB8 at the Heineken World Tour. 
PHOTO COPYRIGHT: Slipstream SA

A song famously captivated the nation in 2010 as South Africa united for the FIFA World Cup, its lyrics echoing across the airwaves, ‘Tsamina mina, eh eh. Waka waka, eh eh. Tsamina mina zangalewa. This time for Africa’. Shakira and Freshlyground couldn’t have been any more accurate. The time for Cape Town is truly now, as the sound of a V8 Formula 1 car reverberated through the Green Point precinct during the Heineken World Tour. 

The full-day fan event transformed the venue into a fully immersive Formula 1 experience, blending live entertainment, the Qatar Grand Prix watchalong, interactive fan activities, which included simulators, and a Scalextrics track. Nevertheless, the main attraction remained the on-track demonstrations from Spinning, Drifting, and Oracle Red Bull Racing.

Taking center stage at the Heineken World Tour was the 2012 Oracle Red Bull Racing RB8, driven by former Formula 1 driver Patrick Friesacher, who visited Cape Town for the first time. 

Filmed by Slipstream SA

“It’s great to hear. It’s my first time in Cape Town, so really looking forward to it. Red Bull Racing has brought the World Championship-winning car, the RB8, from Sebastian Vettel,” Friesacher said. “And, for myself, it’s always a great pleasure to drive such a car. It gives me goosebumps, especially when you fire up the car. It’s something special.”

Friesacher is no stranger to South Africa, adding: “I’ve been twice to Kyalami with the Formula 1 two-seater, but that was a long time ago. That was back in 2005 and 2006.”

The purpose of the Heineken World Tour, according to Heineken South Africa’s Marketing Communication Manager Warrick Wyngaard, is to bring Formula 1’s atmosphere directly to fans outside of traditional race weekends.

“The Heineken World Tour is a global celebration that brings the thrill, style, and sophistication of Formula 1 directly to fans around the world. It’s far more than a typical race-day experience, it’s a full-day festival of speed, music, culture, and connection,” Wyngaard said. “It transforms city streets into a dynamic, high-octane playground where fans can immerse themselves in the authentic world of Formula 1 through live entertainment, interactive fan zones, and premium Heineken experiences.” 

Fans gather as the Red Bull RB8 is fired up before the first show run.
PHOTO COPYRIGHT: Slipstream SA

Many fans in attendance cited the lack of opportunities to experience Formula 1 machinery in person as a key reason for attending the Heineken World Tour. Scuderia Ferrari supporter Grant ‘Scully’ van Schalkwyk described the event as a rare chance to engage with the sport at close range.

“So, we are at this event, purely because we don't see enough of these events in Cape Town, South Africa, and it was the first time in a very long time that we can actually get up close and personal with a Formula One car,” he said.

The sense of rarity has also reignited the long-standing discussions surrounding Formula One’s potential return to South Africa. Speaking to Slipstream SA, fans were unanimous in their desire to see the Formula One World Championship return to the country, although opinions differed on where the future Grand Prix should be hosted. 

With a very rich motorsport and Formula 1 heritage, South Africa hosted the first F1 Grand Prix in East London in 1961 before it moved to Kyalami, which went on to host a further 21 races before departing in 1993. In the years that followed, there were various bids, but momentum only increased when the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, replied to a social media comment, saying: “[..] my term will be a failure if I don’t bring one of the biggest sporting tourist events to South Africa, which is F1.” This statement sparked renewed debate, including the ideas of Cape Town Grand Prix, and the Wakanda City Grand Prix in the Eastern Cape; however, more recently, Kyalami Grand Prix circuit’s new owners confirmed that they have received FIA approval to proceed with Grade 1 status upgrades, which positions the venue as a strong candidate should Formula 1 return to South Africa. 

Simulators and a Scalextrics track were on hand for fans to enjoy. 
PHOTO COPYRIGHT: Slipstream SA

Whilst Kyalami works towards achieving FIA Grade 1 status (F1 standards), it’s worth reminding ourselves that legendary drivers, such as seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher, Ayrton Senna, Niki Lauda, and Jim Clark, all raced at the circuit. However, a question lingers, is historical value and significance truly enough to host Formula One, in view of the fact that Cape Town has demonstrated the ability to host visually appealing, street-based motorsport events, like Speed Classic Cape Town, F1 demonstrations, and the FIA Formula E World Championship in 2022, which has left a strong impression on fans and participants alike. 

Wilhelm Wasserman, a Red Bull Racing fan, said, “I like Formula 1, but there is no alternative to seeing a Formula 1 car in South Africa currently,” which truly highlights the importance of showcase events, such as the Heineken World Tour. He was also keen to mention the success of previous races, including the FIA Formula E event in Cape Town, as proof of the country's readiness to host top-tier motorsport. “We attended the Formula E event when it was here, and we loved it,” he added.

Other fans acknowledged Kyalami’s practical advantages while still recognising Cape Town’s appeal. Miguel Neto identified Johannesburg as the logical choice, but admitted the allure of Cape Town is difficult to ignore. Riaan Zeelie was more direct, describing the city as a natural destination for global motorsport events.

“I would like to have Formula 1 in Cape Town. We know it's currently in the ranks of having it in Jo’burg. But Cape Town is such an awesome place. If you need to go anywhere, you need to come to Cape Town. Cape Town is the place to be. Even if you have to move here, by all means, we will welcome you with open arms. Please, guys, come out,” Zeelie said.

Red Bull athlete Sam Sam spinning up a storm at the Heineken World Tour.

Video Copyright: Slipstream SA

Despite the excitement that surrounded the Cape Town event, Wyngaard was careful not to draw any links between the Heineken World Tour and a potential South African Grand Prix, stating that: “Heineken has a long-standing global partnership with Formula 1 (F1), and South Africa is an incredibly important market for us. At this stage, we’re not in a position to comment on any potential future race locations or the F1 calendar in general. Any announcements regarding future events would come directly from F1, in collaboration with the relevant local authorities, when appropriate.”

The maiden Heineken World Tour has showcased South Africa’s burning desire to once again host the pinnacle of motorsport, Formula One, at the southernmost tip of Africa. Whether a return becomes reality remains to be seen, but Heineken has undeniably fueled a flame for what one day could be a reality.

The Set-Up with Steve Humble: A glance into the engineering behind hillclimb racing.

Steve Humble is making a setup adjustment on the March 79A at Speed Classic Cape Town.
PHOTO COPYRIGHT: Slipstream SA

When you think motorsport, your first thoughts usually revolve around – the cars, the speed, the circuits, and the wheel-to-wheel action that it brings, but if you delve behind the detail, then do you discover the little intricacies that makes motorsport truly unique, areas such as: aerodynamics, gear ratios, etc. and last but certainly not least, the set-up. 

Perfecting each of these areas will help separate a quick car from a controllable one, and a fast driver from a confident one. 

Across motorsport’s many disciplines, excelling and setting yourself apart requires both speed and confidence in the car that you are driving. That makes set-up crucial — whether you’re fighting at the front for victories or bringing up the rear. 

If you look across the spectrum of motorsport, there is a vast array of disciplines. You have single-seater categories, such as Formula 1 and Formula E, which sit alongside endurance racing with GTPs, Hypercars, and GT3s, as well as off-road disciplines like Rallycross, rallying, and Rally-Raid. There’s also motorcycle racing — MotoGP, the Isle of Man TT — and, of course, hillclimb racing. A single-seater set-up cannot simply be transplanted into rallying or any other discipline. Each car requires a unique set-up approach to extract the most performance, which means set-up work is specific to every championship and series.

To provide you, our reader, a clearer understanding of ‘the set-up’, Slipstream SA will explore its intricacies across a range of championships — from hillclimbs to rallycross — starting with hillclimb racing.

Charles Arton is heading to the start line in his March 79A.
PHOTO COPYRIGHT: Slipstream SA

Hillclimb racing is all about pushing a car to its limits along a course with unpredictable bumps, camber changes, and blind crests, which means every metre matters. That in turn means tuning a car for tight, technical sections while also accounting for aerodynamic performance and immediate tyre grip is essential.

Slipstream SA caught up with Steve Humble at Speed Classic Cape Town to gain insight into what it takes to set up a race car for hillclimb competition. There’s no better perspective than that of a seasoned mechanic and team principal, and Humble fits that bill.

Humble is the lead mechanic for Charles Arton, who drives a classic Formula Atlantic March 79A single-seater. 

“This is a March 79A, a former Formula Atlantic car, originally with a 1,600 BDA, now running a 2-litre BDG (engine). It’s actually an aero car, though we don’t run the full aero sidepods,” he explained.

The March 79A was developed in the late 1970s — an era defined by ground-effect experimentation, loud engines, and chassis built through a blend of hands-on development, racing knowledge, and early wind tunnel principles.

The sidepods on Charles Arton's March 79A, with the visible ground-effect skirt.
PHOTO COPYRIGHT: Slipstream SA

In the period, the March 79A was designed for smooth, high-grip circuits with long straights and fast sweeping corners. But hillclimb racing is nothing like circuit racing. As Humble points out, "car setup is extremely difficult to define because everywhere is different. Hill climbing is different from a main circuit. The main circuit tends to be a lot smoother. Hill climb is always a compromise because there is zero time to warm anything up. So, what we are trying to achieve is instant heat and grip from the tyres. And the way we do that is by running softer setups and hopefully making the aero work as early as possible."

Humble explains that “car setup is extremely difficult to define because everywhere is different. Hill climbing is always a compromise because there is zero time to warm anything up. What we’re trying to achieve is instant heat and grip from the tyres. The way we do that is by running softer setups and hopefully making the aero work as early as possible.”

Where circuit racing often relies on downforce and tailored setups that suit the driver's needs, like more understeer or oversteer, a hillclimb car needs to generate confidence and grip from the very first corner. Every adjustment — from springs, dampers, camber, tyre pressures, wing angles — is aimed at responsiveness, agility, and generating driver confidence.

When asked what matters more — horsepower or setup — Humble’s answer was straightforward. “Raw horsepower means nothing if you can’t control it and keep it on the track,” he says. “You can have 1,000 horsepower or 100 horsepower; if you can’t control it, it’s basically useless.”

A good setup is about finding the perfect balance to give the driver good confidence, which will enable him or her to extract the maximum lap time achievable, but in order to get there, you may need to make a few compromises. 

“It’s a compromise all the time,” Humble says. “You have to take into account springs, anti-roll bars, caster, camber, differential settings, aero, and whether the car actually responds to any of those changes. If it doesn’t, then you’re just battling a flexible car.”

A flexible car is something no driver wants, but at times, they have to deal with it. Forcing a driver to underdrive due to a lack of feeling, which results in a lack of confidence, making it harder to push to the desired limit.

Charles Arton smiles ahead of his final run up the mountain.
PHOTO COPYRIGHT: Slipstream SA

Ultimately, a great set-up is built around the driver. “You should always set a car up for a driver, so when the driver comes back, he turns around and says to you, the car is better than he is. That way, you know you are actually in the ballpark, because when a driver comes back and says the car is trying to kill him, then you are not in the ballpark,” Humble explains.

Driver feedback becomes the lifeblood of performance. Without it, set-up work devolves into educated guesswork. “A large portion of it isn’t just guesswork, it’s experience,” he says. “I’ve been doing single-seaters for 30-odd years. A lot of it crosses over, and then it’s a matter of fine-tuning.”

To the layman, a set-up might simply mean tweaking a car to make it faster, but in reality, it is far more complex. As Humble explains: “There's the aero, and you've got to make sure that your weight distribution is correct front to rear, not just side to side. So, the corner weight of the car, I guess, is very important. You also have to make sure that you've got the right amount of weight front to rear. You can't corner weight balance the front axle, but still have too much weight on the rear. Otherwise, no matter how good the car is, if you don't have enough weight on each axle, then you're not going to get any grip out of it.”

A detail many overlook, yet Humble reminds just how razor-thin the margins can be: “Half a kilo can make a difference with a single-seater.”

For most teams, a baseline set-up acts as a compass — a known, stable configuration that provides a direction to begin with. “You can only get a track-specific setup with a driver that can actually give you the information. So, experience will give you a baseline setup that works on most single-seaters. I've got a baseline setup that I know works on most single-seaters, but then it's down to the driver to tell me what the car's doing. So, we can then fine-tune or move forward from that point, or backwards, as the case may be,” he explained.

At a hillclimb, those fine adjustments begin even before the engine fires. “We need to know whether it’s got the right gear ratios, whether you're having to gear up or gear down for a corner, or whether you can hold it through the corner and in the right rev range,” he says. “Because if you're changing down mid-corner, or you're having to change up mid-corner, you're not right with your gear ratios, which means that the chassis is then having to do things or cope with things that it shouldn't have to do.”

Unlike modern single-seaters, the March 79A does not have a data logger or an ECU to gather data, which means everything is analogue – and everything is based on feel. “This car’s from the 1970s,” Humble says. “There’s no computer data coming out of it for me.” That places the responsibility squarely on driver feedback and mechanical understanding — the kind of engineering that existed long before laptops entered the pitlane.

Charles Arton on route to the start line at Speed Classic Cape Town.
PHOTO COPYRIGHT: Slipstream SA

With a clear understanding of just how crucial the set-up of a racing car is for hillclimb racing, we asked Steve Humble what fans most often misunderstand about a car set-up, to which he explains: “Tyre pressures and tyre temperatures. People don’t understand the need for accuracy. They use cheap gauges and assume they’re correct.”

It’s a worthy reminder that setup work isn’t always about big budgets or sophisticated technology — sometimes it’s about the experience and knowledge that you’ve gathered over a decade to help the driver find a direction that will make him or her comfortable with the car.

Humble offers one final piece of advice to aspiring drivers, in relation to set-up work, and said: “Find yourself a good team with an engineer that actually does know what he's talking about.”

With a clearer understanding of the intricacies behind setting up a car for hillclimb racing, attention now turns to the next installment, where Slipstream SA aims to explore many other motorsport disciplines – from off-road to circuit racing – as we reveal how the pursuit of a perfect lap, or race, begins long before the car hits the track.

Red Bull Racing roared through Cape Town as Heineken turned Green Point into a full-throttle F1 Festival

Image Credit: Junaid Samodien

Cape Town didn’t just host an event — it felt the shockwave of Formula 1 culture exploding through Green Point as the Heineken® World Tour transformed the precinct into a high-adrenaline fusion of V8 thunder, street-festival energy and world-class spectacle. With the unmistakable scream of a real F1 car echoing between the Cape Town Stadium, buildings and thousands packing the streets, the city briefly felt like it had its own Grand Prix.

Thousands of spectators lined the area for what became one of the most significant F1-themed activations South Africa has seen in years. At the heart of the action was former Formula 1 driver and long-time Red Bull Racing demo ace Patrick Friesacher, who headlined the motorsport programme with a rare and crowd-shaking appearance in the 2012 Red Bull Racing RB8.

The RB8—famous for carrying Sebastian Vettel to the 2012 World Championship—was one of the last V8-powered Formula 1 cars and remains a fan favourite for its raw sound and aggressive aerodynamics. Friesacher put on multiple high-intensity runs, lighting up Green Point with burnouts, accelerations and the unmistakable scream of the Renault RS27 V8, giving fans a visceral reminder of the sport’s pre-hybrid era. It marked one of the few times in recent years that an F1 car of that generation has run publicly on South African soil, making it a major highlight of the day.

Alongside Friesacher, Red Bull’s senior race support crew—including one of the team’s veteran mechanics (insert name)—held technical demonstrations that gave fans a close-up look at the precision, choreography and engineering excellence behind modern Formula 1 operations. For many spectators, getting within arm’s reach of a championship-winning machine was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

The event also celebrated South African motorsport flair, with local drifting favourite Samkeliso “Sam Sam” Thubane wowing the crowd with tyre-smoke theatrics and crowd-pleasing sideways showmanship.

From morning to night, the venue pulsed with energy thanks to a stacked entertainment lineup featuring Cassper Nyovest, DJ Natasa, Themba, Kamo Mphela, YoungstaCPT, the Cape Minstrels, and DJ Fresh. Immersive fan zones—including simulators, reaction games and VR experiences—turned the precinct into a hybrid of racetrack, concert arena and lifestyle hub. Veteran presenters Robert Marawa, Anele Mdoda and Scoop Makhathini kept the adrenaline flowing with their trademark charisma.

In classic Heineken® style, fans gathered at the Heineken® House to watch a live stream of the Qatar Grand Prix, transforming the venue into a festival-style viewing zone as cheers echoed through Green Point. For many, it was a rare chance to share a Grand Prix weekend in a massive, real-world community of fans.

Alexander Drake, Head of Heineken® South Africa, said the day showcased the power of Formula 1 to spark culture and connection.

“You could feel the energy from the moment the engines fired up. F1 has a unique ability to spark culture and community, and seeing Cape Town own that moment was incredible. This was a clear statement about where we’re going as a brand and what fans can expect from us,” Drake said.

A surprise hit among attendees was the appearance of Heineken’s mysterious helmeted showman, who roamed the venue with high-energy antics that quickly became a social-media favourite.

Heineken®’s approach to the Cape Town stop reflected the brand’s global philosophy of merging motorsport with lifestyle culture—an approach that has defined its F1® partnerships across the season through TV, digital campaigns, limited bottle editions and nationwide activations.

Drake says the event signals the brand’s commitment to delivering richer, more premium motorsport experiences: “Heineken® isn’t here to follow the trend. We’re here to create the moment. With F1, we’re proud to be building a brand that gives fans the world-class experiences they love.”

If anything, the Cape Town stop underscored Heineken®’s ambition to deliver world-class experiences to the South African public. The brand isn’t simply staging events — it’s cultivating a market with the appetite, culture and energy to rival major fan hubs worldwide. By merging racing heritage, premium entertainment and immersive fan engagement, Heineken® is signalling that South Africa is ready for more headline-worthy Formula 1 moments, and the brand intends to be at the centre of that growth.