CASE STUDY ACCENTURE

From Philipstown’s streets to screens worldwide

Turning a local tradition into a shared experience that reaches far beyond the town itself

3-MINUTE READ

Built by hand, powered by pride

In Philipstown, a long‑standing love for handmade wire cars sparked the annual WireCar Grand Prix—a community tradition that gives young people a creative outlet and a shared sense of ownership.

What began 15 years ago with just over ten children racing on the streets of Philipstown has grown into a cultural moment reaching audiences around the world.

Working with the Philipstown WireCar Foundation, Accenture Song helped evolve this local tradition into a multi-channel experience that brings the race to life in new, interactive ways.

Today, immersive digital storytelling brings the Grand Prix to life across a range of experiences, including a feature documentary and a mobile game—allowing people everywhere to engage with the race and support the community behind it.

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The road to race day

The Philipstown WireCar Grand Prix feature documentary follows eight young racers as they build their cars and prepare for race day—inviting the world along for the ride.

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From track to screen

The documentary goes behind the race, blending real moments with creative storytelling to bring the making of each WireCar to life. Told through the eyes of the young racers, it reveals the craft, ambition, and pride at the heart of every build.

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Community, supercharged

The film reframes the project from a local initiative into a broader South African story of resilience built through community. It features Siya Kolisi—South Africa’s rugby captain and two-time World Cup winner.

Reality rewired

The documentary blends real-world storytelling with a cinematic CGI layer inspired by the town’s streets and stories. During the live race, handmade cars were fitted with tracking devices, translating their movement into a virtual environment in real time.

Driven by imagination

The experience reimagines the children as drivers, with each digital car reflecting its maker’s personality—brought to life with the pace and energy of Formula 1 commentator Alex Jacques’ narration.

"Every WireCar carries a story of skill, pride and perseverance. Giving these stories new ways to travel helps our young people see that their creativity has value far beyond our streets."

Kay Fourie, Chairperson and Co-founder Philipstown WireCar Foundation

Game changer

Next, the team translated the WireCar Grand Prix into an interactive mobile game—bringing the race to life in players’ hands.

The game is a true digital twin of Philipstown, created using 360‑degree footage of the town and GPS race data—so what players see on screen is grounded in real lives, real cars, and the very streets where the race is run.

Optional cosmetic in app purchases support youth programs, a computer learning center, and vocational skills development through the Philipstown WireCar Foundation.

The race, within reach

The mobile game puts the WireCar Grand Prix in the palm of your hand, and is available on Google Play and Apple App Store

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Beyond the finish line

An official ecommerce channel now offers authentic WireCars hand crafted in the town as well as WGP merchandise. Together with proceeds from the mobile game, the channel helps fund youth initiatives including the community hub which serves as an e‑learning center.

From the streets of Philipstown to screens around the world, the WireCar Grand Prix now travels further than ever. Rooted in community ownership, it opens doors, sparks imagination, and carries pride forward long after the race is over.

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