What is Scalextric Hot Laps?
Scalextric Hot Laps adds a retro style of racing to your Scalextric competitions.
Using a simple cardboard gantry and an easy-to-navigate app, you can play head-to-head, against the clock, or a combination of the two modes, making your Scalextric hobby more fun than ever before.
The app uses motion-detection technology to record laps and track checkpoints, so you can focus on getting your slot car around the layout as fast as you can.
Simply download the Hot Laps app, assemble your race set, add the gantry, and choose your game mode.
Game modes
There are three game modes to choose from:
1. Lap counter
Line up your slot cars at the start line and compete in a head-to-head competition with your fellow racers. You decide how many laps you’ll be covering (up to 1000) and the winner is the one to finish them all first. You’ll get a five-second countdown before the race begins, and then it’s time to put your finger down and get to the finish line. The app will keep track, so you don’t have to.
2. Hot Laps Championship
In this game mode you have to complete three different rally stages, hitting certain checkpoints in the race to proceed to the next level.
Championship mode is for solo players, pitting you against the clock as you race around the tracks. You’ll get five warm-up laps, which help to set the speed for the rest of the competition, and then the stages will get progressively more difficult, giving you less time to hit your checkpoints.
There are three degrees of difficulty – easy, medium, and hard (with different settings. Once you’ve mastered the easy levels, you can move up to medium and then hard. But make sure you complete them before the time runs out on the app.
3. Hot Laps Head-to-Head
Just like Championship mode, Head-to-Head has the three rally stages, with checkpoints to track your progress. The only difference is that now you have to compete against a competitor. So, not only do you need to complete your stages before the timer expires, but you also need to do it before your opponent
The most skilled slot car racers will get their names on the global leaderboard, so you can compete against Scalextric Hot Laps players around the world.
Things you need to know
Scalextric Hot Laps works on both iOS and Android, on most devices created since 2017. The app is completely free, and you can use it on your existing Scalextric sets, which don’t usually come with a lap counter, too. All you need is something to hold your smart device over the centre of your track at the start line.
Without Hot Laps, you have to count your laps manually, which can be very difficult to keep track of.
When placing your smart device on the gantry, make sure it is lined up with the centre of the track. And leave it in place once it’s set up. For the most reliable results, make sure the area is well lit.
Hot Laps is an incredible Scalextric integration that removes the guesswork, gives you race statistics, and makes it fun to race on your own if your usual competitors are busy. It’s easy to use for all racers, no matter how old or young, or what level of slot car skill you have.
