Scalextric unveils BBC Top Gear and Bond tie-ups
Toy brand Scalextric has signed a licensing deal with BBC motoring show Top Gear that will see a branded game released in March.
It is the first tie-up between Scalextric and the Bafta award-winning programme, fronted by Jeremy Clarkson, but Scalextric says it hopes more will follow.
The new edition of the racing game, called Top Gear Powerlaps, is based on a regular feature in the show that tests celebrities’ driving skills against mystery driver The Stig. It will be unveiled at the UK Toy Fair that opens on January 30 at London’s ExCeL.
The set includes Ford GT and Porsche 911 GT3R cars, and two special edition Stig hand throttles.
Scalextric marketing manager Paul Chandler says: “It is a perfect mix and an obvious thing for us to do. The show attracts 8.5 million viewers and we want to tap into that.
“We have talked about projects over the next two or three years, and both parties are keen to develop the partnership. We are looking at bringing out two Top Gear products a year.”
Hornby-owned Scalextric has also revealed plans for a tie-up with the 22nd James Bond film, due out in November. It announced this week that the second, or “chase”, car in its set, alongside Bond’s silver Aston Martin DBS, will be a black Alfa Romeo 159.
Four versions of the Bond-branded set will be launched in the autumn before the film, which is still untitled, is released.
