[woodcote]

Micro Scalextric sets have been a big hit with families during lockdown. So much so, most of the 2019 sets have sold out and the Scalextric team have bought forward the release dates for all the sets due this summer. In addition, the new accessory packs have arrived, plus the only single car release of the the year - the DC Comics Superman inspired car. All the sets contain the excellent new Micro Scalextric track system and 9 volt power - which provides a much more user-friendly and fun experience than the old Micro Scalextric. So lets have a look...

G1161 Micro Scalextric James Bond - No Time to Die set. RRP £49.99

       

This is the highlight for me and is already sold out on the Scalextric website. Released before the film, the 007 set includes two fabulous new models - the Aston Martin DB5 is a rework of one of the best Micro Scalextric cars and the Jaguar XF is the standard-issue vehicle for the double-O team in recent Bond movies. The set contains black, undecorated track which will appeal to more mature Micro enthusiasts. It is the medium-sized set - building nine different layouts - and like all the 2020 sets features a battery-powered powerbase. This delivers the same 9 volts as the mains powerbase, but makes the set more versatile and cheaper. A mains powerbase is available as one of the new Accessory Packs.


G1155 Micro Scalextric Batman vs Joker set. RRP £49.99

       

This is the smaller sibling of the 1/32 scale Spark Plug set that hit the shelves last week. The Micro version is likely to be very popular. It features the Batman inspired car from last year's Justice League set, plus a Micro version of the Joker inspired car on the Rasio C20 body. Just like the 1/32 scale model, I think it looks sensational. The set is another battery-powered medium-sized layout with the decorated black track we saw in all the 2019 Micro sets. There are three more DC Comics character cars available individually - Wonder Woman and The Flash from the 2019 catalogue and Superman for this year. All have a RRP of £12.99 - definitely pocket-money prices.


G1160 Micro Scalextric Ryan's Police Chase set. RRP £49.99

       

This is the only set not available yet - but it is expected very soon. This one features the 2018 police SUV as the Ryan Patrol car and the new Rasio hypercar as Dark Titan Racer. Like Batman vs Joker, this is the medium-size set, battery-powered and has decorated black track. Ryan's World is a YouTube channel with over 23 million subscribers and an eye-watering 30 billion views since 2015, including some of the most-watched videos on YouTube. Ryan Kaji is just eight, but he and his family are some of the most recognisable people on the planet for young children. Ryan's World is all about reviewing and playing with toys - so for Micro Scalextric to have a Ryan's World licensed and branded set in their catalogue is a big deal.


G1141 My First Scalextric Looney Tunes battery set. RRP £34.99

       


G1154 My First Scalextric battery powered set. RRP £29.99

       

These two My First Scalextric sets are battery-powered versions of mains-powered sets released last year. The My First sets are top sellers and the new track system makes them a perfect first taste of slot car racing - and for a very good price. Although shown as just a figure-of-eight, the track pieces included in the set will make four different layouts. The Looney Tunes set has the added pazzazz of the lovely Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck 'hot rod' cars, with Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner cars available separately (RRP £12.99 each). There's also a marvellous Penelope Pitstop car to go with last year's superb Wacky Races mains-powered set - which are both still available and come highly-recommended by me.

To extend your Micro Scalextric set, there are now four Accessory Packs available...

G8043 Micro Scalextric Mains Powered Track Piece & UK Power Supply. RRP £14.99
G8045 Micro Scalextric Micro Scalextric Track Extension Pack - Six Straights & Four Curves. RRP £12.99

       

G8046 Micro Scalextric Track Stunt Extension Pack - Stunt Loop. RRP £12.99
G8047 Micro Scalextric Spare Guide Blade Pack of Eight with Screw. RRP £2.99

       

And here are some ideas of how to use them...




Finally, this is the one car to be released individually in 2020 - the Superman inspired car from last year's DC Comics Justice League set...

G2167 Micro Scalextric Justic League Superman car. RRP £12.99
   



I'm not surprised that locked-down families are choosing Micro Scalextric. The sets are all eye-catching and fun out of the box - the new system is good quality and very reliable. With some imagination and some basic craft supplies, it is possible spend hours adding to the atmosphere of the sets and creating the basis for the immersive gameplay that younger children love...

       

For out-and-out racing, a lap counter is needed. Scalextric don't have one available for the new system yet - and the old mechanical lap counter isn't compatible. However, there are plenty of lap timing apps available for Android, Apple and Amazon Fire devices - I use LapTracker Auto Timer on my iPhone and iPad. These apps are easy to set up using the phone or tablet's camera and have features ideal for traditional slot car racing or to add to imaginative play.

The Scalextric website (https://www.scalextric.com/uk-en/shop/by...micro.html) is a good place to start, but Micro Scalextric sets and accessories are widely available - often with prices 10-20% below RRP. Expect some store-only sets later in the year (I won't mention Christmas) at the likes of Aldi and Lidl. Please note that the Race Karts and American Racers sets on the website are the old 18 volt Micro Scalextric track system and are nowhere near as good quality or as easy to use. The two track systems are not compatible, although the new cars will work on the old Micro track.