Carrera takes slot car racing realism to the next level

Slot car racing has always been a great way to get youngsters interested in motorsports – and for their parents to indulge their racing dreams, especially over the long winter months. But the digital revolution that has changed the way we work, play and communicate continues to take slot cars further beyond toys to ever higher levels of realism.

Carrera, which has been building high-quality slot car sets since 1963, offers a wide variety of sets and cars for hobby racers and beginners alike, in 1:43, 1:24 and 1:32 scales. Exclusive worldwide reproduction license agreements with Ferrari and Red Bull in the slot car segment provide an authentic F1 racing experience, while a variety of modern sports cars classic models are also available with meticulously detailed bodies over the rugged Carrera chassis (ABOVE). Now, new digital enhancements go further still.

With Carrera AppConnect, you will be able to link your smartphone or tablet directly to your DIGITAL 124 and DIGITAL 132 racing circuits via a Bluetooth adapter to the control unit of the Carrera racetrack.

The potential for future connectivity is endless – a point made by a Ferrari/Carrera photo-op at this year's Australian GP where the Scuderia's F1 drivers Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen controlled their slot car equivalents via the hand brakes of their mountain bikes (LEFT).

The Carrera Race App lets you determine whether you want to take on the role of race director and link up directly with the control unit or connect with race control as a driver.

In the race control "Race Profile," you control all the known features of the digital systems, such as tank capacity, braking response and speed. In addition, you can specify the race mode and are able to monitor, via the display, all the relevant information concerning the progress of the race for all the drivers involved.

A wireless radio signal system uses 2.4-GHz technology and imports even more digital technology onto your Carrera circuit. The receiver allows signal transmission to six different cars and the set is controlled via ultra-light hand-held wireless controls.

Frequency hopping provides uninterrupted, frequency-independent operation. The powerful Lithium-Polymer power pack provides power for eight hours of non-stop action – and a fully charged battery can remain charged 20 days on the standby setting.

The charging stations powering the hand-held controls are incorporated into the track. The charging stations can be installed in the track layout by linking up to the Adapter Unit or Control Unit.

Of course, there are endless options to expand starter sets like the one shown above with additional track and accessories, and you can even download track layout templates to build some of the world's great racetracks from http://www.carrera-toys.com. The website also provides full product catalogs and additional information.