Richards Castle Soap Box Derby gearing up for high-speed high-jinks this June

Richards Castle Soap Box Derby is gearing up for its 22nd year of high-speed high-jinks this summer. Scheduled for Sunday 28 June 2026, the Shropshire countryside is preparing to host more than thirty carts as they hurtle down the iconic Hanway Common course.

The standout news for the 2026 season is the official sponsorship of the Novelty Class by the local legends at Hobsons Brewery.

Following the success of the inaugural novelty category last year, the committee has decided to introduce a rotating annual theme. For 2026, the brief is "Food & Drink," a challenge that Hobsons is not only funding but participating in directly.

The award-winning Cleobury Mortimer brewers have already confirmed they are entering their own team, though whether their cart will resemble a giant rolling cask or a supersonic bottle remains to be seen.

Spectators play a vital role in this category, as the power lies with the public to vote for their favourite creation. The stakes are impressively high for a village derby, with a cool £500 prize waiting for the winner and £250 for the runner-up. Committee member Kate Pearce has expressed her excitement about the partnership, noting that they are actively looking for the wackiest entries possible from Young Farmers groups, schools, and local businesses.

Speed, Skill, and Spills on the Common

While the novelty carts provide the laughs, the course itself provides the adrenaline. The 550-metre track at Hanway Common is a daunting prospect for any amateur engineer. With a 50-metre vertical descent, racers can expect to hit speeds between 30mph and 40mph. Negotiating the shifting gradients and sharp chicanes requires more than just a sense of humour; it takes genuine nerve and a well-built chassis.

Marc Suffolk from Hobsons Brewery noted that the brewery team is already "buzzing" with ideas, highlighting the incredible community spirit that transforms this quiet corner of the world into a motorsport hub for a day. It is this unique blend of engineering ingenuity and local eccentricity that continues to draw thousands of spectators to the sidelines every summer.

Racing for a Local Cause

Beyond the thrill of the race and the inevitable occasional hay-bale collision, the Richards Castle Soap Box Derby has raised an astonishing total of over £180,000 for local causes since its inception in 2004. The organisers have always operated under the firm belief that money raised within the community should stay within the community.

For the 2026 event, the proceeds are earmarked for three vital local organisations. The Cleobury Mortimer Community Hub, the Brimfield and Little Hereford Sports Club, and LOOK will all benefit from the gate receipts and entry fees.

Whether you are there for the technical precision of the professional carts or the sight of a giant pork pie on wheels, the 2026 derby promises to be an unmissable highlight of the British summer.

You can find out more at richardscastlesoapbox.co.uk.