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Policar CAR09a Ferrari 126C2 Long Beach 1982 - Didier Pironi. RRP tbc. Scheduled Winter 2022.

There's a change of plan for the first livery on the much anticipated Policar 126C2 - Pironi's Long Beach car gets the 'a' moniker as the special box for the Gilles Villeneuve Zolder release is taking longer than expected to manufacture. Policar have released a couple of prototype images to keep the excitement simmering away and pre-orders coming in...

   

It certainly looks a wonderful addition to the Classic F1 range, Policar travelling to the 1980s for the first time. The model features the same superb detailing and near-perfect scale representation that have become a benchmark for Policar's 1970 F1 models. And the 126C2 shares the same slim-can motor and super-smooth gearbox which make the Policar single-seaters so enjoyable to drive.

The choice of the Ferrari 126C2 is significant for an Italian slot car manufacturer. The C2 was the dominant car of 1982 - a triumph after Ferrari's turbo teething problems - but it was also the car in which Maranello's favourite son died. The US Grand Prix West at Long Beach was the third race of the 1982 season. Ferrari fitted the unique double rear wing - each element as wide as the regulations allowed, but overall far too wide. Whether a genuine advantage was expected or not, this was a challenge to the FIA in the on-going FISA-FOCA wars - political shenanigans that rather demeaned the sport at the time. The wing was essentially a tit-for-tat response to Williams' 'water-cooled brakes' trick. Tyrrell duly protested the double wing and the stewards duly disqualified the Ferraris, after what was a pretty classic early-80s Grand Prix...

The lovely people who own the rights for F1 have blocked us embedding any video content of the 1982 US GP West here, but you can still watch highlights of the race direct on YouTube: https://youtu.be/1xu7Dw45dRk

   

And there's plenty of footage in that video of the Ferraris. Although Pironi dropped out on lap six, Villeneuve fought back from a spin to claim third place - before being disqualified. Long Beach would be the only appearance of the double wing. The front and rear wing layout of the 126C2 would change during the year - starting in South Africa and Brazil with standard wings at each end, then experimenting with the front aerofoils for the European season - Pironi with and Villeneuve without as the two Ferraris finished 1-2 at Imola...

   

Pironi won at San Marino - and it was clear the 126C2 was now the car of 1982. The only question was whether Villeneuve or Pironi would be world champion. That pressure was certainly in the background when one of the most awful incidents of Formula One history unfolded in qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix. That scene at Zolder remains a traumatic memory for 1980s F1 fans - and for many, it took some of the magic away from the sport. Although the Villeneuve's 126C2 disintegrated, none of the blame for his death was laid at Ferrari's door. That Pironi suffered a similar accident at Hockenheim - one that ended his racing career - was just part of the risk of Grand Prix racing. Thankfully, racing cars have become stronger and safer since then.

Pironi held a comfortable lead in the drivers' championship - and would still finish second to Keke Rosberg by only five points, despite missing the last five races. Ferrari had drafted Patrick Tambay to drive Villeneuve's car - and Mario Andretti drove the #28 for the last two Grand Prix. In the hands of four drivers, the 126C2 won the manufacturers' title for Ferrari - although that was little consolation for the Tifosi.

By producing the Ferrari 126C2, Policar will be able to take us through that difficult journey of the 1982 season, celebrate the life of Gilles Villeneuve and offer models of race winning cars driven by Pironi and Tambay, plus Andretti's pole position car at Monza. There's also some nice variety of wings to make different releases more interesting. The Long Beach cars are unique, but Policar do supply a standard wing in the box for those more interested in racing the car.


The first livery - the Didier Pironi Long Beach car - is scheduled for release in the fourth quarter of 2022 and will be available for pre-order at Pendle Slot Racing and other Slot.it and Policar dealers very soon.