Ultimate Scalextric set revealed: visitors can race on Silverstone replica

F1

A 25-metre-long Scalextric recreation of Silverstone will go on display at the circuit's museum over Easter, with visitors able to take part in time trials and tournaments

Silverstone Model Wide

Silverstone has never seen such unsportsmanlike behaviour — and that’s saying something.

Anthony Davidson looked to be cruising to victory in his Porsche after David Croft’s early challenge had collapsed with a series of scrapes against the barrier.

And that’s when the dirty tricks started — Croft diving down the pitlane in an attempt at a shortcut to reel in the former F1 driver and WEC champion. But it was to avail, as Davidson took the chequered flag, having avoided the sneaky obstacle of his rival’s hand, placed strategically on track.

The F1 commentators were among the first to pit their slot car skills against a Scalextric replica of the Silverstone circuit, which will be open to the public next month at the Northamptonshire track’s on-site museum.

It might be the ultimate set: a 25-metre long layout that mirrors the home of the British Grand Prix, complete with winner’s podium, ‘The Wing’ pit complex and a selection of some of the great cars to have raced there, including Nigel Mansell’s Williams FW14B and Ayrton Senna’s Lotus 97T.

Motor Sport got an early preview on a setup that our six-year-old selves could only have dreamt of while sending slot cars hurtling around the living room. Whilst a recreation of Lewis Hamilton’s double overtake at Club corner wasn’t on the cards — racers being restricted to just two lanes — seeing a pint-sized Aston Martin Vantage zip through a miniature Maggots and Becketts offered a jolt of adrenaline.

Led by a husband-and-wife team from The Racing Room, which designs and builds slot car layouts, a team of model makers spent hundreds of hours piecing together the 108 individual sections of the track and creating the accompanying scenery. The result forms a centrepiece of Silverstone Museum’s ‘On Track’ exhibition, which runs during the Easter holidays from April 1-16.

Scalextric’s head of brand, Simon Owen, described the model as the “perfect size” for visitors to follow the likes of Verstappen and Hamilton, Hill and Schumacher, or Mansell and Piquet in battle at the circuit.

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However it isn’t the largest Scalextric layout ever seen: that is thought to be a 45-metre-long creation, made for Sky Sports, and featuring 44 corners chosen by Martin Brundle from his favourite sections of tracks from around the world.

The Silverstone set will host time trials and tournaments over the two-week period, but that may not be the last you see of slot cars racing through Becketts and Copse. There was a hint that a more compact living-room size set could go on sale in future.

“For generations, Scalextric has been a beloved brand among racing fans of all ages,” said Owen. “Now, with our collaboration with the Silverstone Museum, we’re taking that love to a whole new level. With our collective passion for racing together with the museum’s unparalleled collection of artefacts and racing memorabilia, we’re creating an experience that’s not just fun and exciting, but also informative and educational.”

The exhibit features a range of full-size cars also on display alongside slot car replicas, including Damon Hill’s Williams FW16B-07, which won the 1994 British Grand Prix. Visitors will be able to build their own Scalextric circuits as well as compete in a ‘Design your own livery’ competition, with one entry being recreated on a model car.

The ‘On Track’ exhibition also includes a tour through the Silverstone museum, which covers the circuit’s origins and evolution, as well as showcasing legendary cars which come to life during the ‘Starting Grid’ cinema experience –  walking viewers through years of circuit’s history before the lights go out and 75 years of motorsport heritage races toward Turn 1.

“To see the incredible iconic Silverstone Circuit recreated in such detail by the Scalextric team is fantastic,” said Rachel James, head of marketing at Silverstone Museum. “And we know the new attraction will be a winner with motorsport addicts, families and car fans alike. Having the original full size vehicles, including Damon Hill’s Williams race car making its debut as part of the our Easter exhibition, is fantastic and there will be so much for families and visitors to see and do.”

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