FSW Weekly Edition #22/2026

Hill’s Race of Champions Lotus

Spark’s Lotus 49 Race of Champions 1968 #4 Graham Hill captures one of the most influential Formula 1 cars ever constructed at the very beginning of its competitive life. Designed by Colin Chapman and Maurice Philippe, the Lotus 49 introduced the Cosworth DFV engine as a fully stressed structural member of the chassis, fundamentally altering Formula 1 design philosophy and establishing a template that would dominate Grand Prix racing for more than a decade. The car's combination of simplicity, lightness and exceptional power delivery transformed competitive expectations almost overnight, while Graham Hill's experience and technical sensitivity helped unlock its potential during the formative stages of development. The Race of Champions at Brands Hatch provided an ideal setting for the Lotus 49's early appearances, offering a highly competitive non-championship environment in which its revolutionary engineering could be appreciated before the start of the World Championship season.

Spark’s resincast interpretation captures the elegance and mechanical purity that have made the Lotus 49 one of Formula 1’s most celebrated designs. The slender monocoque, exposed Cosworth DFV installation and clean aerodynamic profile are reproduced with impressive precision, while the distinctive Gold Leaf Team Lotus colours sit crisply across the car’s simple yet instantly recognisable bodywork. The overall presentation successfully conveys both the technical significance and visual beauty of a machine that altered the course of Formula 1 history. More than half a century after its debut, the Lotus 49 remains one of the defining cars of the Grand Prix era, giving this model a level of historical importance that extends far beyond the result of any individual race.

The Lotus forms part of a broader Formula 1 programme that spans multiple generations of Grand Prix history. Spark’s latest delivery strengthens the classic single-seater landscape with subjects including the BRM P261 and Spirit 101, while Alain Prost’s Williams FW15C French Grand Prix 1993 winner bridges the gap between the DFV-powered era and the active suspension sophistication that defined Formula 1 in the early 1990s. Tameo further expands the historic programme with work now underway on a 1:43 metal kit of the Renault RE30 that secured a memorable French Grand Prix one-two finish for Alain Prost and René Arnoux in 1981. Werk83 adds two unforgettable moments from later Formula 1 history through Ayrton Senna’s Williams FW16 from Brazil 1994 in 1:43 scale and Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari F300 from Belgium 1998 in 1:18 scale, while Centauri Publications offers a limited series of Ferrari and Formula 1 1:5 helmets celebrating some of the Scuderia’s greatest drivers.

Alongside these historic subjects, Spark’s latest air and sea shipment announcements deliver one of the most extensive contemporary Formula 1 programmes of the year. The air shipment includes Lando Norris’s British Grand Prix winning McLaren MCL39, Max Verstappen’s Abu Dhabi 2025 World Championship-winning Red Bull RB21, Yuki Tsunoda’s Canadian Grand Prix RB21, Andretti Formula E Gen3 Evo entries for Jake Dennis and Felipe Drugovich and new 1:5 helmet releases for Kimi Antonelli and Carlos Sainz. The parallel sea shipment expands the large-scale offering with Norris’s Monaco and British Grand Prix-winning McLarens in 1:18, the Abu Dhabi championship-winning RB21, Haas VF25 Japanese Grand Prix entries for Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon and Ferrari SF-25 models for Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc from Monaco, Miami and the China Sprint. Looksmart complements the programme with the Ferrari 296 Challenge in 1:18 and the striking 1:12 Hamilton Ferrari SF-25 China Sprint winner, while Spark’s growing preorder range introduces 2026 Japanese Grand Prix special liveries for Haas and Racing Bulls across 1:64, 1:43 and 1:18 scales together with an extensive new collection of Formula 1 helmets. With preorder windows on both shipment programmes now approaching closure and a 5 percent discount currently available, early commitment is strongly recommended..

Lotus 49 Race Of Champions 1968 #4 Hill - SPK6388

Porsche 911 RSR 31st Le Mans 2019 #56 Team Project 1 1:12 - IXOLEGT12027

The Mentos Art Car at La Sarthe

Ixo’s Porsche 911 RSR 31st Le Mans 2019 #56 Team Project 1 in 1:12 scale captures one of the most memorable and visually distinctive entries of the modern Le Mans era. Finished in its instantly recognisable Mentos-inspired turquoise, yellow and white livery, the Team Project 1 Porsche became an immediate fan favourite during the 2019 running of the 24 Hours, standing out even amongst the colourful and diverse field that has long characterised GT competition at La Sarthe. Beyond the eye-catching appearance, the car represented the continuing strength of privateer endurance racing, with the German squad combining professional preparation, competitive ambition and the determination required to compete against some of the world's leading GT operations. Whether viewed charging through traffic during daylight hours or illuminated under the famous Le Mans night sky, the #56 Porsche embodied the unique blend of theatre, endurance and personality that continues to make the race unlike any other in world motorsport.

Ixo’s large-scale diecast interpretation allows every aspect of the 911 RSR’s aggressive GT racing design to be appreciated in exceptional detail. The pronounced wheel arches, deep front splitter treatment, intricate brake cooling architecture and sculpted rear diffuser are all reproduced with impressive clarity, while the dramatic Mentos livery is accurately applied across the car’s complex surfaces. The larger 1:12 format brings a level of visual impact rarely achievable in smaller scales, successfully conveying both the engineering sophistication of Porsche’s final mid-engined GTE contender and the artistic creativity that has become a defining feature of many modern Le Mans special liveries. The result is a model that functions equally well as a motorsport collectible and as a striking display piece celebrating one of the most memorable GT entries of recent years.

The Porsche forms part of an exceptionally broad endurance racing and GT programme spanning multiple decades of competition. Spark’s latest delivery reaches from the earliest years of Le Mans through to contemporary GT3 racing, featuring the TWR Porsche Le Mans 1996 winner, Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo Spa 24 Hours 2025 entries for Walkenhorst Motorsport and Comtoyou Racing, Mirage M10 Le Mans 1979 cars, the Cougar C20B Le Mans 1990, Osca 750S Le Mans 1957 and Porsche 550 Le Mans 1955. Modern GT competition is further represented through McLaren 720S GT3 DTM entries and the large-scale Nissan Z GT500 Super GT 2024 Motul car in 1:18 scale. TrueScale strengthens the IMSA landscape with Ford Multimatic Motorsports Mustang GT3 entries from Daytona and Laguna Seca, while BBR Competition delivers Ferrari 296 GT3 contenders from the 2025 Daytona 24 Hours for Dragonspeed, AF Corse and Cetilar Racing. Newcomer NZG also makes its debut with Grand Prix Models through a pair of 2025 DTM Mercedes AMG GT3 Evo models for Team Mann Filter and Team Landgraf, complete with opening bonnets revealing detailed engine compartments.

Spark’s substantial air shipment announcement expands the endurance and GT landscape even further with one of the largest Spa 24 Hours programmes announced this year. BMW M4 GT3 Evo, Ferrari 296 GT3, Porsche 911 GT3R, Mercedes AMG GT3 Evo, Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo2, Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo2 and Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R entries feature prominently across both Spark and Looksmart ranges. Le Mans coverage continues through landmark winners including the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP 1st Le Mans 2009 and Toyota TS050 Hybrid 1st Le Mans 2020, while Japanese GT racing receives further support through Toyota GT86 GT300, Nissan Z GT500 and Mercedes AMG GT3 GT300 releases. The expanding Sparky 1:64 programme introduces Porsche 963, Oreca 07, Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Evo and Ferrari 499P Hypercar subjects, joined by four new historic Porsche 911 endurance racers from Daytona, Sebring and Le Mans. Werk83 adds further Porsche depth with the Le Mans-winning 956, Ludwig’s DRM Championship-winning 935K3 and Bellof’s legendary Nürburgring qualifying record 956, while Marsh Models celebrates its 40th anniversary with a remastered Gulf Porsche 917LH and additional Daytona and Sebring-winning 917K subjects. Looking further ahead, Spark’s preorder programme now includes the 2026 WEC Genesis Magma Racing GMR-001 Hypercar in 1:18 scale, representing the next chapter in endurance racing’s rapidly expanding Hypercar era.

Gurney’s Daytona Toyota

Hasegawa’s Toyota 88C Daytona 24 Hours 1989 #98 All American Racers in 1:24 scale celebrates one of the most fascinating collaborations of the IMSA GTP era. Combining Toyota’s rapidly developing Group C technology with the engineering expertise of Dan Gurney’s legendary All American Racers organisation, the 88C represented a unique blend of Japanese performance and American racing ingenuity. The Daytona 24 Hours entry carried the unmistakable red, white and blue colours synonymous with Gurney’s racing heritage, creating one of the most distinctive visual identities on the IMSA grid. At a time when prototype racing was enjoying unprecedented technical freedom and manufacturer involvement, the Toyota 88C stood amongst an extraordinary generation of turbocharged endurance machines that continue to captivate enthusiasts decades later.

Hasegawa’s long-established plastic kit programme remains one of the most respected within the hobby, and the Toyota 88C demonstrates precisely why. The sleek aerodynamic bodywork, intricate chassis detailing and complex turbocharged powertrain are all faithfully reproduced, creating a rewarding project for builders seeking a subject with both historical significance and engineering depth. The finely moulded components and accurate decal package successfully capture the character of the original racer, while the large 1:24 scale allows the distinctive proportions and aggressive stance of the 88C to be fully appreciated. More than simply a model, the kit offers builders the opportunity to recreate an important chapter in the history of international prototype racing and one of the most recognisable Toyota endurance programmes of the late 1980s.

The Toyota forms part of an exceptionally varied programme spanning rallying, road cars, endurance racing and automotive heritage. Hasegawa itself complements the 88C with Tommi Mäkinen’s Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution III from Rally Sweden 1996, while DSN 43 delivers a particularly strong collection of classic rally subjects including the Audi 80 Quattro Sweden 1983, Datsun Violet 160J Boucles de Spa 1980, Fiat 124 Abarth Portugal 1977 and Opel Kadett GTE Tour de Corse 1979. Trofeu adds the Ford Escort RS1800 from Ypres 1979, while Spark strengthens both historic and modern rally coverage through the Monte Carlo-winning Lancia 037 of Röhrl and Geistdörfer alongside contemporary Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Safari Rally entries.

Beyond competition machinery, Ixo expands its road car catalogue with subjects including the Volvo 343, BMW 6 Series, Alpina B7 Turbo and Jeep CJ7 Laredo, while KK Scale introduces the Porsche 911 (996) Turbo in multiple colours. Schuco adds accessible classics including the Ford Escort XR3, Volkswagen Golf GTi Mk1 and Renault 5 Alpine Turbo, while BBR, Looksmart, Matrix, Carbone, Mini GT and ABC Brianza collectively deliver everything from Pagani hypercars and Ferrari road cars to pre-war Maseratis, coachbuilt Mercedes-Benz models, Camel Trophy Land Rovers and historic racing boats. Together, the range demonstrates the remarkable breadth currently available to collectors across motorsport, road car and heritage categories alike.

Toyota 88C Daytona 24hrs 1989 #98 All American Racers 1:24 - HASLE20442