While browsing the Revell website, I saw these little racing cars and thought they’d be great for racing some of my Carrera radio-controlled vehicles, like Mario and Sonic. I’d also like to test it on a Carrera HYBRID track to see how easy it is.
So, I ordered an Ultra Racers – Series 2 – Formula Speed ball for 15 euros.
The following information can be found on the Revell website:
- The surprise factor: You never know which of the 6 cool designs is inside the box. The hunt for the “Ultra Race Design” is on!
- Pocket-sized power: Measuring just 7 cm long, these speedsters fit easily into any trouser pocket – perfect for spontaneous races around the office or down the hall.
- Hard-free driving: Thanks to modern 2.4 GHz technology, you and your friends can drive multiple cars at the same time without signal interference.
- Sleek looks: Equipped with LED lights, these little Formula racers look spectacular even at dusk or under the bed.
- Instant fun: The simple controls are ideal for children aged 4 and up. With a ride time of up to 15 minutes, hours of action are guaranteed.
The package arrived with our bauble, so we opened it…
We discovered a beautiful, shiny bauble with the “Formula Speed Series 2” logo on top.
On the bottom, a small sticker reveals the model even before you open the bauble; it shows a picture of the car. This means that you can choose the model in the store. At the same time, at this price, if you want two different vehicles for two children, it’s difficult to get two identical models. We’re not talking about a €5 surprise. It’s a false surprise, but it’s very nice. And you can remove the sticker to give it as a gift.
I opened the ball after removing the plastic film. The ball seemed large compared to the size I had in mind for the car after looking at the website. Well, surprise! The car is much bigger than the 7cm advertised on the site.
Box contents:
- A huge instruction manual to meet the standards!
- An unusual remote control; I’ve never seen one like it.
- A car
- A spoiler
The first thing to do is to clip the spoiler onto the car.
The car
Our racing car looks just like a real racing car, and it sports a color that might remind you of a well-known team. I really like the Revell logo and the “Control” range name on the front; it’s like having a car from the Revell team. The brand isn’t hiding anything; it’s proudly displaying itself.
The series name is on the rear wing.
The car is 13.5 cm long, not 7 cm as stated on the website. It’s the width that’s 7 cm.
There’s a logo on the side with the text “Fire Wheel.”
A sticker indicates that it needs to be removed to take off a protective film from the body; for now, I’ve chosen to keep it on to protect it.
The tires are made of rubber and really look like those on racing cars; when you touch them, they truly feel like real tires.
The remote control
It’s very simple, with just four buttons and no proportional controls for the car. Visually, the remote looks like plastic, but to the touch, the plastic is quite soft thanks to a slightly textured surface. I find it feels better in the hand than Carrera remotes.
Getting started
For the car, you’ll need two AAA (LR03) batteries. I didn’t have any, so I discreetly used the ones from the TV remote.
And for the remote, you’ll need two AA (LR06) batteries. There’s no rechargeable battery for this vehicle, which is a real shame because it would allow you to play regularly without using batteries and more batteries.
Now it’s time to get everything going. I flip the switch under the car and press the button on the remote.
Surprise! The car lights up. The driver’s head, the logos on the sides, and the back of the helmet light up and slowly change colors. I wasn’t expecting that. I hadn’t noticed the mention of LED lighting.
Here are a few pictures showing the car’s different lights.
Placed on the ground, I start the car by pressing the accelerator button. It takes off immediately, and I quickly realize it’s much faster than 1/43 scale RC cars.
The car is maneuverable and can easily drift on tile if you provoke it, but otherwise, the handling is good. I think this is due to the quality of the tires, which I’ve rarely seen on radio-controlled cars in this price range.
A slight adjustment underneath the car was necessary to keep it on course in a straight line, and after that, it was a real pleasure to drive; it goes exactly where I want it to.
Conclusion
Its compact size is ideal: small enough to maneuver between furniture, yet fast enough to keep up the pace. Design-wise, the vehicle is well-finished and adds a touch of fun thanks to its light effects—although an option to turn them off occasionally would have been appreciated.
While the initial unboxing left me wanting more, handling it proved to be an excellent surprise. A very convincing test overall!
Size: 135 mm long and 7 cm wide
Ref: 235739090
Suggested price: €15