[woodcote]

SCX (Scalextric España) have just announced their Q1 releases for 2026…

   
   
   
   
   

The first four are self-explanatory, but the Seat 850 is a bit of a surprise, resurrecting some old tooling and using a 1970s livery from a legendary Catalàn hill climb. Arrabassada is a road that winds up from the Barcelona seafront to Tibidabo, the highest of the hills surrounding the city. The climb is no longer used for organised motorsport events, but still popular with cyclists and boy racers. It is also an option in the Assetto Corsa video game.

A big thanks to Weevils Slot Cars for the images.

[rallyhub]

Thank you for sharing, Andy.

[BAracer]

Where do the two Mercedes SLs fit into their release schedule?

Possibly the most beautiful slot car of the year...?

[woodcote]

Announced last year, they are due Q1 2026.

[BAracer]

   

[JasonB]

Is that the 57 Cuban Grand Prix Mercedes? If so, I need it.

[Graham]

Is that the 57 Cuban Grand Prix Mercedes? If so, I need it.

It is a Carrera Pan Americana Road Race Merc, so it will have to be another one for me 

Perhaps a series of such cars ….

[JasonB]

Thanks Graham. Now i've looked closely at the photo, it does have "La Carrera Panamericana" written just above the door. 

But I suspect it is the same car. It's certainly from the same part of the world, and the same sponsor, Trinidad Y Hno, a Cuban cigar and cigarette brand, so it would be surprising if they hadn't taken part in the Cuban GP.

I'm almost sure I've seen a photo of the same car racing round the streets of Havana, maybe a different number. I may still be tempted.

[woodcote]

There are two 300SL Coupés on the Scalextric.es and Gaugemaster websites...

   

The #10 from the 1952 Carrera Panamericana (driven by John Fitch and Eugene Geiger) and the #7 private entry to the 1956 Le Mans24 hours (in collectors' edition packaging)...

   

The first Cuban Grand Prix was in 1957 and there was apparently a local 300SL on the entry list, driven by Modesto Bolanos. He did not feature in the results or in event photographs available online. There's a Bang diecast of a 330SL with Trinidad Y Hermano sponsorship and carrying the #10. Whether it's an accurate rendition of the Cuban GP car or a mash-up of the John Fitch Panamericana entry, who knows? There's an interesting family memoir of the race here.

There also a nice write-up of John Fitch at the 1952 Carrera Panamericana here.

[woodcote]

Something else on the Scalextric.es website that I don't remember seeing in 2025 and certainly wasn't imported into the UK is this...

   

The Off-road extension pack is priced at 45 Euros and the track + Hummer 75 Euros.

Maybe more off-road stuff to come?