If you’ve recently seen a tram with a Formula 1 race car on its roof passing by, you’re not dreaming. The “Mazačka” service tram of the Prague Public Transport Company is making its rounds through Prague streets with a race car on top. The reason? The upcoming “Red Bull Showrun presented by foodora” event, which will take place on Saturday, August 17th, at Rohanské nábřeží in Karlín.
The combination of the famous Mazačka and the even more famous race car is sure to delight fans of fast wheels and rail transport alike. This unique sight has never been seen before in Prague or anywhere else. “The partnership between Prague Public Transport and Red Bull is a wonderful example of a mutually beneficial connection between two strong brands from seemingly different worlds. Through the collaboration of Mazačka—a legendary Prague tram—and the Formula 1 race car, we pay tribute to both technologies, their designers, the technicians who maintain them, and, last but not least, the drivers,” says Petr Witowski, Chairman of the Board and General Director of DPP.
The Mazačka is a special tram tasked with keeping the tracks in good condition. It differs from regular trams due to its cargo area, which contains a large tank used for watering green tracks. As its name suggests, the primary function of the Mazačka is to lubricate the tracks. Lubricants are applied to the rails using nozzles in the undercarriage. Proper lubrication ensures smoother operation and significantly reduces noise levels. The Mazačka also performs other maintenance tasks for Prague’s rail network. Since its launch in 2015, it has gained a large following and become a phenomenon on the streets of Prague.
In recent days, the Mazačka has been repainted from its usual orange to blue and has swapped its tank for the RB18 race car, which Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez drove for the Red Bull Racing Team during the 2022 Formula 1 Grand Prix. The Mazačka with the race car is touring Prague on a route designed to maximize visibility. Fans can spot it in Strašnice, Vršovice, I. P. Pavlova, Karlovo náměstí, Staroměstská, Letná, Náměstí Republiky, Palmovka, Hloubětín, and other locations.
The Mazačka tram with the race car is in operation since yesterday, Monday, August 12th, until Thursday, August 15th, 2024, from approximately 7:30 AM to 11:30 PM. The route takes about one and a half hours. The current schedule for the Mazačka with the Formula 1 race car is available on the DPP website at dpp.cz.
This unique combination of the Mazačka tram and the race car serves as an invitation to witness a real Formula 1 car in action during the “Red Bull Showrun presented by foodora” event. This Saturday, August 17th, the legendary driver David Coulthard will get behind the wheel and demonstrate to spectators in Prague-Karlín the thrilling engine sound that led the Red Bull Racing Team to victory in several Grand Prix. The asphalt at Rohanské nábřeží will heat up under the tires of the iconic RB7, the car in which Germany’s Sebastian Vettel and Australia’s Mark Webber claimed twelve victories. Vettel won the World Championship, and Red Bull Racing took home the Constructors’ Trophy. The adrenaline-filled event, featuring a supporting program with drift shows and motorcycle stunts, will kick off at 2:00 PM on Saturday. More information can be found on the website RedBull.cz/showrun.
You can also follow the tram’s journey live on YouTube: Livestream Mazačka Tram.
