Today we received the new Minichamps release schedule for the next five weeks. There are no ‘huge’ releases on it, but lots of replicas that quite a few people will have on order!
Next week we will see Minichamps’ next two 1:43 2008 F1 cars; Robert Kubica’s BMW F1.08 (DC28404), and Timo Glock’s Toyota TF108 (DC28412). There will also be Andy Priaulx’s 1:43 2006 WTCC BMW 320 Si (P062601), Martin Brundle’s 1:43 1992 Benetton B191B (P920120), and Spark’s first 1:43 2008 Le Mans car, the #7 Peugeot 908 of Villeneuve, Minassian and Gene (SPK1279).
The following week sees Valentino Rossi’s 1:8 2001 helmet (PO10846), which has been delayed by a couple of weeks from when we originally expected to see it, and the two 1:43 2008 Super Aguri SA08s of Takuma Sato (DC28418) and Anthony Davidson (DC28419). The first 1:43 2008 DTM cars will also come through; the Audi A4s of Oliver Jarvis (P081715), Markus Winkelhock (P081719), and Katherine Legge (P089620). From Spark there will be the Le Mans GT1 class winning Gulf Aston Martin DBR9 of Turner, Brabham and Garcia (SPK1214).
The third week of the schedule (week beginning 10th November) sees the most unpopular driver in F1 released, at least judging by the sales of our 2008 1:43 F1 cars! It is Nick Heidfeld’s BMW F1.08 (DC28403). I was quite surprised when I noticed this statistic, but we have sold considerably fewer replicas of Heidfeld than of anyone else on the grid, even including the Force Indias and Super Aguris.
Also due for release that week are two more 1:43 2008 DTM cars, the Audi A4s of Alex Premat (P081714) and Mike Rockenfeller (P081718), and Alan Jones’ 1:43 1978 Williams FW06 (P780027).
For the penultimate week of the schedule we are due to get Minichamps’ first 1:18 Peugeot 908 replica, which I am surprised to see released so recently (comparatively) after its announcement. It is the #8 car of Lamy, Sarrazin and Bourdais from the 2007 Le Mans 24 Hours (PG071208). Then, at the other end of the scale, we are scheduled to receive Stefano Modena’s 1:43 1992 Jordan 192 (P920032), which we must have been waiting at least three years for!
As ever, the last week of the schedule doesn’t look that strong at the moment, but once the next month has gone by I’m sure more subjects will have been added to it. As it stands the highlights are, finally, restocks of Ayrton Senna’s 1:18 1991 McLaren MP4/6 (AS193), and Mauricio Gugelmin’s 1:43 1992 Jordan 192 (P920033).
So, there you have it. No ‘biggies’, but plenty of models that several collectors are going to be pleased to see, and there are six subjects there that I’ve got on order for my own collection so I’m happy! Can you guess which ones?
