Scalextric Brings ‘Drift Racing’ Phenomenon to the UK with the new Powerslide set

Scalextric is bringing the latest Japanese and US racing craze to the UK. Drift Racing is set to explode onto the UK and European scene in 2005 and Scalextric will be there too! Drifting demands the ultimate in car control and requires drivers to maintain and manoeuvre controlled slides at high speeds of up to 100 miles per hour! The Scalextric Powerslide racing set features cars which are fitted with ‘guideblade’ systems which allow the cars to be spun 360 degrees to travel in both directions around the track! The Powerslide set launches at the end of May and is priced at RRP £75 (ex VAT).

There is an increasing interest in this emerging motorsport where the cars suspension systems are completely different to the more traditional ‘grip racing’ cars. The suspension of the car is a lot tighter and the chassis of the cars are also tightened by strut braces and roll cages to help generate more wheel spin. This is all designed to help the cars lose traction with the racing surface and to move sideways into bends and down the straights!

The Scalextric Powerslide set contains two models of the most popular racing car amongst Drift racers – the Nissan 350Z. Scalextric fans may also be surprised that the set is in the shape of a figure of eight! The figure of eight shape allows fans to build up a good track speed before pulling off some crazy driving stunts!

After a little practice it becomes quickly apparent where to inject maximum acceleration in order to give the cars momentum to perform the various manoeuvres. By accelerating hard into a bend, drivers can pull off 180 degree spins, whilst a burst of speed out of a bend into a straight section results in a classic ‘reverse lock’ slide. Scalextric Drift cars work on the conventional Scalextric track using standard hand throttles.

The set also contains lots of rubber tyres that can be placed strategically around the racing bends. One of the most popular features of the Powerslide set is to create a game which sees racers compete against each other to knock the tyres off their side of the track as fast as possible. It takes time and skill to master the control of the car to pull this off! Drift fans can also compete to knock each other off the track by performing a well timed ‘fishtail’ move or a high speed T-bone!

The launch of the Scalextric Powerslide set firmly positions Scalextric at the heart of the latest crazes in the world of motorsport. Scalextric continues to bring all the fast and furious action from all corners of the world to UK racing fans!

-ENDS-





For more information please contact:



Jim Hawker

Threepipe Communications

Tel: 0207 470 8830

E: jim@threepipe.co.uk