[KensRedZed]

Sometimes? Ha!

It happens all the time. 

[Scuderia_Turini]

Hornby website struggling with the railway announcements.

Leo

[woodcote]

We’re in very different circumstances to last January – this year’s Scalextric launch is a very socially-distant affair. No trip to Margate and no chance to see some of the new models in the flesh, photograph them and give them a run on the track.

However, we do have all the up-to-date pictures from what is an impressive 2021 catalogue – and I am extremely grateful to Martyn and Simon for spending some time with me on the phone to present the fruits of their labours and for answering my questions.

As we know, Scalextric’s parent-company Hornby are emerging from some difficult times. They are heading in the right direction and returned to profit during 2020, boosted by strong sales in the toy and hobby sector during the pandemic.

The Scalextric catalogue had only four new pieces of 1:32 scale tooling in 2019 (although they did launch a completely new 1:64 system), which grew to eleven in 2020 and increases further to thirteen (by my count) this year. Together with re-liveries and revised tooling on almost all of the 2020 new cars, that gives a really strong range in the 2021 catalogue.

I reckon there’s something there for almost everyone (I’ll discuss some gaps later...) and there’s plenty to thrill the many thousands of new and returning slot racers who’ve flocked to the hobby in the past nine months.

I’m going to start with Classic F1, move on to Classic GT, street and Touring, some new Gulf Edition cars, then switch to TV and Movies, Modern GT, Touring and street cars – and end up with a brand new range and an exciting new evolution of Spark Plug.

So strap yourselves in and enjoy the ride… As soon as the new range shows up at scalextric.com

If you’re visiting SlotRacer Online for the first time, why not have a look around and sign up as a member of the forum.

[woodcote]

Here's the cover of the catalogue as seen on the Scalextric Facebook page just a few moments ago...

   

[964rh]

Is that a XJS Police car?

[BAracer]

TWR version coming up...?

[BAracer]

That's one long car if I remember rightly.

[GT Sprite]

Yes the Adam West Batmobile, to the Batcave Robin!

[Pennyworth]

Holy crap,,,,,I know what's on my pre order list....

[woodcote]

And we’re off...

       

That’s right! Scalextric have two brand new Ayrton Senna Lotus F1 cars in the 2021 catalogue – the black JPS 97T Renault he drove to his first win at the 1985 Portuguese GP and the 1987 Camel-sponsored 99T Honda from his first Monaco win. It’s pure nostalgia – these two cars imprinted in our memories, both with Senna at the wheel and as classic Scalextric models from the late 80s.

The Scalextric design team are giving these two models plenty of love and attention. The 97T is scheduled for a summer / early autumn release and the 99T is in the final quarter. At the moment, there’s only a 3D artist impression of the 97T and a photograph of the 99T. Both will have the F1 slim-can motor and magnatraction – the established set-up for Scalextric single-seaters.

   

Next is a rather tasty1976 British Grand Prix triple pack, which contains all three cars that finished on the podium – James Hunt’s McLaren, Niki Lauda’s 312T2 and Jody Scheckter’s six-wheeler Tyrrell. No new tooling, but the M23 and the 312T2 were crying out to be re-released - they will set you back much more second-hand than this triple pack costs brand new. The 312T2 mould was produced under license from Ferrari back in 2007. That license lapsed, but it looks like Scalextric can still produce cars from the mould if they drop the manufactures name. They have done the same with the “412P” in recent years.

The Classic F1 triple pack has the iconic cars, three F1 world champions and all the drama of the race and of the 1976 season. You can watch Rush for the Hollywood treatment…



This is the only limited edition pack in the catalogue – only 1,500 units are available. It is scheduled for a first quarter release and may be worth a pre-order, even for people (like me) who don’t normally indulge in that pre-order malarkey.

   

Two re-liveries round of the Classic F1 section. Jim Clark dominated the 1962 British Grand Prix in this little Lotus 25. He took pole position, fastest lap and very comfortable second Grand Prix win in what would be the last British Grand Prix at Aintree. The car has an odd yellow front right wheel – the pictures of the race show the yellow wheel and Simon confirmed it with Classic Team Lotus. This is another first quarter release.

   

Arriving right at the end of the year is the Tyrrell P34 that Ronnie Peterson raced to third place at the 1977 Belgian GP in Zolder. The blue and white First National City livery is one of my favourites on a Tyrrell (the 008 was my Scalextric F1 car of choice as a kid). The tooling of the Scalextric car is the 1976 P34, not the 1977 P34B with the bulbous engine cover. However, this is authentic. The P34B proved a ponderous car – not helped by a lack of front tyre development by Goodyear. Tyrrell swapped back to try the older P34 mid-season and Peterson scored the team’s best result of the year – the only time two Swedes have appeared together on a Grand Prix podium. Gunnar Nilsson won the race in a Lotus.

Classic GT, Touring and street cars next?