Renault creates real-life Scalextric race to promote electric cars

Winners of a competition were given the chance to race two electric cars around London by remote from inside a helicopter. The cars travelled along a custom-built track and passed landmarks such as the London Eye and the Houses of Parliament with the auto maker hoping the unusual course demonstrates the power of the electric vehicles.

The car marque is promiting the stunt through a video, created in partnership with Manning Gottlieb OMD and Scorch London, giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at how it all came together.

Renault says it wants more drivers to consider electric cars for a new purchase after claiming almost a third (32 per cent) do not have enough knowledge to make an informed choice.

Renault is hoping the stunt matches the same viral success of a similar ad for its Clio brand that saw drivers test a fictional “Va Va Voom” button to spark seemingly random occurrences inside and outside the car. The ad has been viewed more than one million times from Renault’s YouTube page since launching in March.