Test report from CoMod JoergW on the Carrera DIGITAL 132/Evolution Mini Cooper Countryman WRC Daniel Sordo "No.37"/Pierre Campana & Citroen DS3 WRC Sebastian Loeb/Van Merksteijn, No.20
(Art. No. 30614/27405 and 30615/27406 and 30616/27407 and 30617/27408)
WRC … small cars are big
The WRC (World Rally Championship: www.wrc.com) is comparable to Formula 1 in terms of the driving requirements and the necessary budget; both are considered the premier class for the respective vehicle types.
The 1:32 scale Mini Countryman WRC now available from Carrera represents the version that achieved a very respectable second place at the 2012 Monte Carlo Rally with a Spanish crew of Sordo and del Barrio. Daniel Sordo is still without a win in the series, which may be partly due to the difficult search for a new sponsor.
In contrast, the Citroen DS3 WRC, also published by Carrera, is on a successful path. Sebastien Loeb has been a continuous World Rally Champion in a Citroen since 2004 and leads the all-time list with 71 victories. Even legends like Colin McCrae with 25 and the multi-talented Walther Röhrl with 14 victories are well ahead in the World Rally Championship. Even the Citroen's co-driver is writing his own legend: with eight world championship titles, he is the most successful co-driver in the history of the World Rally Championship.
Optics:
Models look true to the original and model-like, not too toy-like.
The Mini WRC seems a bit tall in direct comparison with the Citroen WRC, but overall, the cars are well-executed. The space in the front wheel arches is likely due to the tight construction, but the components have to go somewhere.
Processing:
Both models are flawlessly crafted. The accessories fit perfectly. The paintwork and lettering are clean and crisp.
The antennas are quite difficult to remove because they aren't very flexible, so there's a risk of them breaking if they fly off. The mirrors can be removed easily on both vehicles.
The wheels rotate smoothly and the slightly profiled and prototypical, rather narrow tires sit well on the rims.
Due to the vehicle's design, there's very little room for lead in the chassis, and if there is, it's in very small pieces and distributed accordingly. Balancing is somewhat difficult.
Driving behavior:
Due to their design, both WRCs aren't quite as fast to drive. Despite the magnets, the wide drift angle of the guide keel allows for rally-like drifting. Raced against each other, the Citroen has a slight advantage; it rides a bit flatter. Its narrower wheelbase isn't a negative. In addition to these two rallies, the Golf 24 (even though it's a VLN, not a WRC) could also be entered on the track. Visually, it fits... but the Golf is likely to have the edge in terms of racing.
Best regards,
your Jörg
(Art. No. 30614/27405 and 30615/27406 and 30616/27407 and 30617/27408)
WRC … small cars are big
The WRC (World Rally Championship: www.wrc.com) is comparable to Formula 1 in terms of the driving requirements and the necessary budget; both are considered the premier class for the respective vehicle types.
The 1:32 scale Mini Countryman WRC now available from Carrera represents the version that achieved a very respectable second place at the 2012 Monte Carlo Rally with a Spanish crew of Sordo and del Barrio. Daniel Sordo is still without a win in the series, which may be partly due to the difficult search for a new sponsor.
In contrast, the Citroen DS3 WRC, also published by Carrera, is on a successful path. Sebastien Loeb has been a continuous World Rally Champion in a Citroen since 2004 and leads the all-time list with 71 victories. Even legends like Colin McCrae with 25 and the multi-talented Walther Röhrl with 14 victories are well ahead in the World Rally Championship. Even the Citroen's co-driver is writing his own legend: with eight world championship titles, he is the most successful co-driver in the history of the World Rally Championship.
Optics:
Models look true to the original and model-like, not too toy-like.
The Mini WRC seems a bit tall in direct comparison with the Citroen WRC, but overall, the cars are well-executed. The space in the front wheel arches is likely due to the tight construction, but the components have to go somewhere.
Processing:
Both models are flawlessly crafted. The accessories fit perfectly. The paintwork and lettering are clean and crisp.
The antennas are quite difficult to remove because they aren't very flexible, so there's a risk of them breaking if they fly off. The mirrors can be removed easily on both vehicles.
The wheels rotate smoothly and the slightly profiled and prototypical, rather narrow tires sit well on the rims.
Due to the vehicle's design, there's very little room for lead in the chassis, and if there is, it's in very small pieces and distributed accordingly. Balancing is somewhat difficult.
Driving behavior:
Due to their design, both WRCs aren't quite as fast to drive. Despite the magnets, the wide drift angle of the guide keel allows for rally-like drifting. Raced against each other, the Citroen has a slight advantage; it rides a bit flatter. Its narrower wheelbase isn't a negative. In addition to these two rallies, the Golf 24 (even though it's a VLN, not a WRC) could also be entered on the track. Visually, it fits... but the Golf is likely to have the edge in terms of racing.
Best regards,
your Jörg
