Renault 1/18 2007 Showcar

Another interesting model has appeared on eBay. Item#300136179674 and like the Alonso McLaren we don't know an awful lot about it.

It seems Mattel/Hot Wheels have produced a 1/18 2007 Renault Showcar. It was a gift for guests of Reno sponsors at the British GP circuit. At present we don't know whether it was also available for sale to the public from the souvenir stands, or whether it is exclusively for sponsors.

If anyone knows anything more about it leave a comment or drop me an email.

CONFIRMED: Alonso 1/18 McLaren Showcar Official Release

Minichamps have confimed that they did produce the 1/18 Alonso McLaren featured yesterday. Although they gave no details of number produced we believe it to be Ltd. Ed. 1000pcs. A Hamilton version was not produced.

Dear Sir
We have produced this Alonso Showcar exclusively for the McLaren Team. Please understand that we can not give any news over the limitation or anything else.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen / With best regards
Minichamps GmbH & Co. KG
Charlottenburger Allee 49
52068 Aachen

1/18 Alonso McLaren Valencia Launch Car???

UPDATE July 29th - This is a replica of Fernando Alonso's McLaren which he demonstrated around the streets of Valencia on January 15th straight after the 2007 Launch Presentation . Both he and Lewis Hamilton drove the 2006 MP4/21 with 2007 livery, although only a Alonso version appears to have been produced.

It appears Minichamps may have produced a 1/18 Fernando Alonso 2007 Showcar. The following photos are from an eBay auction. If you look closely at the photos the livery / decals / helmet seem to be a little too good just to be a another converted model. The seller claims it is a Ltd. Ed. 1000pcs for Mercedes Benz however there are no details of product code and no photos of the barcode on the box. I've contacted Minichamps to confirm that it is genuine and I'll let you know their response.

Photos are from ebay - see item here.

1/18 Minichamps Cancellations

The following 1/18 items have been cancelled by Minichamps and will not now be released -

100070018 Scuderia Toro Rosso STR2 Vitantonio Liuzzi 2007
100070019 Scuderia Toro Rosso STR2 Scott Speed 2007
100070014 Red Bull Racing Renault RB3 David Coulthard 2007
100070015 Red Bull Racing Renault RB3 Mark Webber 2007
100060116 BMW Sauber F1 Nick Heidfeld 2006 1st Podium Finish
100060217 BMW Sauber F1 Robert Kubica 1st GP Hungary 2006

The only 2007 F1 cars to be produced by Minichamps in 1/18 are now McLaren and Sauber. It still remains to be seen whether Hot Wheels have obtained the licience to produce Red Bull, Toro Rosso etc.

Takuma Sato Collection Announcements

New TAKUMA SATO COLLECTION model announced. - Jordan Honda EJ12 - Barcelona Test Car 1st - 3rd February 2002 - High lid cover - Ltd. Ed. Due late 2007.

Another new announcement is the McLaren Honda MP4-5 - driven by Takuma Sato at the `Enjoy Honda` Raceday at the Motegi circuit in 2002. Originally announced as Minichamps standard release #400020102 - it will now be released as #518020102 and will form part of the "TAKUMA SATO COLLECTION" with high lid box. This is also due late 2007.

PHOTO SET # 1 - BBR 1/43 US GP F248 Pyramid

Future Releases Listings

On the right hand side you'll see links to future releases by BBR, Minichamps, Hot Wheels etc. I will update these pages as new models are announced.

The Hot Wheels page is now online and contains some prototype photos of the new Raikkonen and Schumacher Ferrari's. The Minichamps & BBR pages will be online soon.

The UK RRP for the new models are as follows -
1/43 Schumacher 5 Car Set - £99.99
1/18 Schumacher 1/2 Carbon Fibre, 1/2 Livery - £99.99
1/18 Schumacher F2004 Engine Detail - £199.99
1/18 Raikkonen Hat Trick - £64.99

"ANATOMY OF A CHAMPION" Series

Hot Wheels have announced three further Michael Schumacher models in a new series they're calling "Anatomy of a champion." Details are fairly sketchy at the minute but I understand all will be created from a "new tooling." They will be limited editions although quantities are unknown at present.

• J6234 - 1/18 Ferrari which is half carbon fibre and half usual Ferrari livery. Car will be mounted vertically in special box and will have a separate Schumacher figurine. The base will list Schumacher's achievements in F1.


• J6235 - 1/18 Ferrari F2004 with removable engine cowling and engine detail. The car will have driver figure. Again Schumacher's career highlights will be illustrated on the base.


• J6237 - Special presentation featuring 5 1/43 Ferrari cars from Schumacher's championship winning years - 2000 - 2004. Again with plague illustrating achievements.

Both Toronto Motorsports and Sport Craft Cars have these cars available to preorder which might give us a rough estimate of price here in UK - J6234 = £65, J6235 = £150, J6237 = £65