Red Bull will host for its second annual chariot race on Wednesday, May 4 at 6 p.m. 12 to 16 teams of 3 “gladiators” each will build and race chariots down Sixth Street, which will be closed off from John to Green streets.

Christina Zuba, student brand manager for Red Bull and sophomore in LAS, said after last year’s successful race, bringing the event back to campus was an obvious choice.

“I was told about 2,000 people came to last year’s event, with 12 teams participating,” Zuba said. “This year we expect at least 2,000 people, if not more.”

Sponsored entirely by Red Bull, both racers and spectators have plenty of incentives to attend.

“We provide the materials for the teams to build a chariot, and there’s no fee for teams to enter,” Zuba said

The team that places first will receive a $500 bar tab to The Clybourne. The team that comes in second will receive 4 concert tickets to any headliner in Chicago and the third place prize is the team’s weight in Red Bull drinks.

Additionally, Zuba said any audience member who comes wearing a toga will receive a wristband for a free drink at the official Red Bull after party at The Clybourne. Winners of the race will receive “VIP treatment” with free drinks for them and their friends.

Though winning the race is important for placing, creativity also plays a role.

“Last year a team dressed as blue Avatars (from the 2009 movie) and there was a team of Sesame Street characters, including Big Bird and Elmo,” Zuba said. “People get pretty creative.”

Teams can dress as anything or anyone as long as there are two teammates and one captain driving the chariot. Chariot design is also open to interpretation.

“Some chariots are literally pieces of wood on wheels, and some are a lot more sophisticated with how they’re made. It’s whatever you want to make,” Zuba said.

While an official panel of judges will be present, audience member may have the opportunity to cast a vote for their favorite team. Zuba said spectators of last year’s race were allowed to cast the pop-tops of their Red Bull cans into the jar of their favorite team.

Teams will have the opportunity to put their chariots and costumes on display at a 5 p.m. pre-race showing, which Zuba hopes will be led by members of the University drumline.

Though in the past a majority of participants have been fraternity and sorority members, Zuba said anyone can enter the race.

“It’s not officially through the Panhellenic Council, but I think because it’s a play on actual ancient Greek games, fraternity men want to be a part of it,” Zuba said. “But there have been plenty of organizations completely unrelated to it that have participated.”

The student brand managers have been working closely with Red Bull for over a month to make this year’s race bigger than the last.

“We had to get permission from the city of Champaign to host the race, and we had to take plenty of safety precautions,” Zuba said. “We have helmets for everyone involved and we ordered 150 hay bales to line the street so if the teams go off course, they won’t hit the sidewalk.”

Zuba said the most surprising part of the whole experience has been the University’s support.

“We didn’t think they would approve of the race last year but they actually think it’s cool,” Zuba said. “There aren’t a lot of sober activities on campus that people come out to, but this one is popular.”