Wacky home-made cars, downhill race tracks, bruised egos and violent crashes. It can only the Red Bull's soapbox race 2012!

Apparently a certain well-known energy drink gives you wings. But judging by snaps of the recent 2012 Red Bull Soap Box Race in Hong Kong, it also gives you the inspiration to build an outrageous papier-mâché conveyance and descend a track as fast as your cobbled-together creation will carry you; Until it disintegrates, or you crash.

It doesn't always end well – although, the low-speed nature of the racing means drivers of these aerodynamic creations will probably walk away nursing nothing more serious than a bruised ego.

The Red Bull Soapbox Race has been running since 2000, when the wacky racing began in Belgium. It has since visited more than 30 countries and pulls in big crowds - with up to 40,000 turning out to watch the race in Hong Kong at the weekend.

It's free to enter and teams are judged on the following criteria - speed, creativity and showmanship.

If you fancy a go, get your thinking cap on. It's not simply a case of turning up with a homemade car - you have to apply with a full proposal, including details on technical feasibility, construction and craft safety.

Then it's up to Red Bull's special event committee to pick the 60 teams that participate.