[woodcote]

The width thing does bug me - but is a dilemma faced by any manufacturer making a recent LMP1 or 2 car. The rules regarding width (and therefore rear track) changed for the 2014 season. Before 2014, cars could be 2000mm wide (62.5mm in 1:32 scale) - that was reduced by 10cms to 1900mm (59.375mm) and the minimum height increased slightly to give that typical pert modern LMP 'face', which the SRC cars don't have.

   

For the pre-2014 LMP1 and LMP2 cars modelled by Slot.it, NSR, Avant Slot, Ninco, Scalextric, SCX, Sloter etc 62.5mm is perfect scale, 63mm is 0.8% overscale and 64mm is 2.4% out. A post-2014 car at 64mm is 7.8% overscale. It could be why other manufacturers keep with the older LMPs to be competitive on track - Slot.it pride themselves on authentic scale modelling and performance. The only mainstream exception is the Scalextric Ginetta LMP1, which is a fraction over 59mm wide at the back - it's a licensed model, so the dimensions will be accurate to 1:32 scale.

SRC could have changed the paradigm - creating a racing class specifically for post-2014 Le Mans Prototypes on a 59.375mm rear width. That would have led the way for someone (Slot.it?) to bring out an Oreca 07 (aka Alpine/Rebellion/Aurus) and the whole slot LMP world would be a more modern and much better place. I guess I am disappointed with SRC because they've proved with their rally, saloon and F1 cars that they can do sumptuous scale models that are top performers - and they don't simply follow the crowd. It was an opportunity missed.

Incidentally, the new Hypercar/LMDh regualtions specify a 2,000mm width. So we are back to 62.5mm for 1:32 scale versions. I wonder who'll be the first slot car manufacturer to dip their toe in the water? There are certainly some very imaginative designs being unveiled by a wide range of car makers - beautiful cars for an exciting new era.