2020 Toyota TS050 Hybrid #8 Pilots: S. Buemi, B. Hartley, K. Nakajima Team: Toyota Gazoo Racing Race: 1st overall (LMP1-H class) at Le Mans in 2020 Spark - 43LM20 (resin)
Review HERE
REVIEW – Toyota TS050 Hybrid #8
Month: January 2022
Ferrari at Le Mans 2021
Ferrari just posted a short video about their race at La Sarthe last year. I think this is the first one in a series of videos describing their race. I’m not sure, but I think (hopefully!) it will cover everything, from the start to the end, when they came first in GTE-Pro. Short and VERY worth the watch 🥇.
The good, the bad and the best
I’m confident very few here recognize this poster. Heck, I think even fewer actually watched that film… Though I can’t say I watched it when it first came out (1966 – I wasn’t born yet), I watched it in the 80s. And I loved it – one of the best “spaghetti westerns”, a film genre that is long gone. However, I doubt that modern audiences will like it very much. Too “slow” for today’s movie standards.
But what the boogers does a 1960’s western has to do with 1:43 model cars?!? Well, other than the somewhat similar title, not much 😁. However, the title is pretty close to what I found out when I compared three 550 GTS Maranello models. Three models from three different brands with three different detail levels. What I concluded was not what you would normally expect…
Peugeot 9X8
And today we get news from Peugeot… Their new 9X8 is still undergoing testing, but boy does that car looks ICE cool! Looks like 2023 is going to be quite interesting 🏁.
New Porsche prototype
This past Friday, at the Weissach test track, Porsche rolled-out its new LMDh prototype. Intended for both WEC and IMSA series, the car will be ready later this year. According to Motorsport.com, Team Penske will be responsible for the factory effort in both series in 2023.
For a Porsche fanboy AND a Le Mans nut, that is great news 😎.
24h Le Mans Virtual
Though I REALLY enjoy racing games, I have to admit that watching virtual racing is kind of weird…🤨 Well, I also don’t have much fun watching others playing if I’m not playing also, so maybe it’s just that. Nonetheless, with nothing better to do and nothing else race-related to watch at the moment, maybe this will be nice. Moreover, the graphics are as gorgeous as what I see with Forza 7 on my X Box System S, and it will be interesting to see Montoya against Verstappen…
It’s live now, so yes, I’ll take a peak 😄
REVIEW – Chrysler Viper GTS-R #51
2000 Chrysler Viper GTS-R #51 Pilots: O. Beretta, K. Wendlinger, D. Dupuy Team: Sté. Viper Team Oreca Race: 7th overall (1st in GTS) at Le Mans in 2000 Minichamps - 430001451 (diecast)
Review HERE
Top 5 – 2021
This year I decided to do something different to close the year. Well, I almost did this last year, but with the COVID pandemic raging the idea kind of floundered. Anyway, the intent is to show the Top 5 models I reviewed in the year. Not just the best models from a craftsmanship perspective but models that for some reason have special significance to me or the W-143 Garage. So without further ado, and in chronological order, here are the Top 5 models of 2021:
Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR #104 – Spark
Not only a FRIGGENTASTIC model from Spark, also the final “factory” Silver Arrow for the W-143 Garage.
Though a so-called “budget” model, probably the best bang-for-the-buck I found in 2021.
Porsche 934 “Jägermeister” #68 – Spark
Not a winner, however being a Jägermeister car (the only one at Le Mans), a very dear model to me.
A class winner and a special one for the Garage – the second of the X-Ray cars. And, Spark-goregous.
Porsche 911 (964) Carrera 4 RAUH-Welt Begriff “Waikato” – Tarmac Works
The nice surprise of the year – I was genuinely impressed by Tarmac Works. A GREAT model on a budget price.